What is bonsai? Simply put, bonsai is the ancient practice of raising trees in miniature, and displaying them in decorative, shallow containers. Bonsai is the controlled unfolding of a tree in an idealized form. Bonsai can be as complex or as uncomplicated as one wishes it to be. Regardless of the plant material used or the pot in which it is placed, all good bonsai has at its heart an expression of the beauty of nature and the endless reverberations of time. To admire a beautiful bonsai is a fulfilling experience. We see something beautiful and thought-provoking. Bonsai can delight, silence, sober, and charm. At its highest expression, it can cause one to shudder with the realization of the brevity and transitory nature of life itself.
Here in the United States the art of bonsai has come to us almost exclusively from the Japanese, who in turn borrowed and perfected the fundamentals of bonsai from the Chinese. It is not until the beginnings of the Meiji Restoration (1868-1912) that the West became fully engaged with this art form. By the turn of the twentieth century many fine Tokugawa-era bonsai had been imported to the US in Japan's rush to embrace European trade. The West's lust for Orientalia bloomed. Crossing many areas -- art, music, fashion, even architecture --this attention certainly contributed as well to the interest in the fascinating dwarfed plants. Sadly, only a very few of those marvelous Tokugawa trees survived their new owner's very limited knowledge of how to properly care for them. Much later, Americans returning from Occupied Japan brought with them tiny trees and shrubs in pots. They sought out Japanese-American experts who had the knowledge of not only how to properly care for bonsai, but also how to shape and maintain their beauty. Bonsai clubs and societies soon formed and thrived. It is now impossible to find a state in the Union that does not have at least one group of dedicated bonsai enthusiasts who meet to discuss and learn about all aspects of good bonsai horticulture.
Bonsai are revered in Japan as priceless works of living art. The gift of an ancient Japanese bonsai is one of the highest honors one could hope to receive. In November of 1998 while visiting Japan our President received such a gift-- a majestic chokan, or Formal Upright bonsai, symbolizing fortitude and strength-- from Prime Minister Obuchi. However, this is not the first time Japan has honored our country with such a gift.
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