As you may know, I have a piece of 10 x 10 square feet land and a rack in the bonsai workshop (for more, check out the post My Bonsai Land Update – What is the Black Cloth for? and More Bonsai Trees on My Rack). I am growing a few big trees that need thicker trunks and more branch in the ground and putting the rest of my trees on the rack.
My bonsai rack and land (photos taken in early May 2011)
Among those on the rack, there were several big trees that I thought might have developed enough and could be potted for the final stage of development (development of fine branches). However, a year has passed and these trees haven’t grown much. I guess I probably have potted them a bit too early. So I decided to take these bonsai trees out from the pot and train them on the ground again. Hopefully, these trees will have their branches developed and can be potted in 2 years.
We can tell that the trees haven’t developed much in the past year with these photos (photo at the bottom is taken in early May 2011). Besides having a bit more foliage (mostly unwanted), the trees have not developed any suitable branches.
The tree surrounded with bricks in the middle is a bonus. It has been here before I moved my trees in.
With other committee members of Institute of Lingnan Penjing Hong Kong, I attended the Lingnan penjing (meaning: Southern bonsai) show which was hosted by 大良盆景協會 (literal translation: Daliang Penjing Association) earlier this month. It was amazing to see so many beautiful southern style penjing all put together in one place. And here, let me show you some photos I took on the day of the bonsai show.
大良盆景協會 (literal translation: Daliang Penjing Association) invited over 500 bonsai enthusiasts all over China to attend its lingnan penjing show.
LEFT: The committee members of Institute of Lingnan Penjing Hong Kong
RIGHT: 5 renowned penjing artists has formed a group and called themselves 嶺南盆景痴友 (literal translation: Lingnan Penjing Maniac) 🙂
Entrance of the bonsai show venue
In the lingnan penjing show, one could find many penjing work by Mr. Han Xue Nian (韓學年先生) – the Chairman of Daliang Penjing Association. While Mr. Han’s specialty is pines (indeed, he is nicknamed as 松王 – the Pine King), he grows bonsai trees of different species and styles. Here is one of his creative work.
I especially admire this bonsai. Note how the trunk of the tree has fully grown into the rock. I wonder how many years has the bonsai artist – Mr. Zeng An Chang (曾安昌先生) – taken to get the tree to grow so seamlessly into the rock.
There’s an elephant under the tree 😉
Unlike Japanese bonsai, one can often find figurines in Chinese penjing.
If you are interested in learn more about the different bonsai styles, you should definitely check out these posts in Bonsai Style category.
What is Lingnan penjing? What are there in Lingnan penjing that are so different from other penjing schools? What is the “Grow and Clip” method? These are the topics Teacher Wong talked about in my first Lingnan penjing class two years ago, and now I would like to share with you part of the content in my Lingnan penjing 101 class (you can also find this in the official website of Institute of Lingnan Penjing, Hong Kong which I am busy working on now).
Spring from the Mother Nature, Exceed the Mother Nature
Chinese Lingnan penjing embraces the Mother Nature. While it imitates the fascinating scenery in the nature, it is not bounded by any rule or formula. Because of its ability to associate its audiences with the beauty and majesty of the Mother Nature in a merely small pot, Lingnan penjing is praised as an art that “Spring from the Mother Nature, Exceed the Mother Nature” (源於自然，超於自然).
Convey Messages and Thoughts through Comprised Style and Ambiance
Lingnan penjing is not only about the outer beauty. Every penjing has its own unique ambiance and mood. When viewing a Lingnan penjing, one should savor the messages and emotions that the Lingnan penjing artist is trying to express.
Prune Trees with “Grow and Clip” Method
Lingnan penjing artists prune trees with the “Grow and Clip” method. Instead of bending by wires, the branches are kept being clipped as they grow. Every clipping creates a new turn and a new session on the branch, and in every session, there grows new branches. Eventually, as the tree keeps growing and being pruned by this particular method, it will taper from the base to the apex, the proportions between the trunk and branches will be greatly developed, with branches full of turns and twists.
If you are interested in knowing more about the other schools of penjing, I would recommend you to check out this page in Phoenix Bonsai Society’s website which talks many different penjing schools in details.
I am currently working hard on building the official website of Institute of Lingnan Penjing, Hong Kong and have just finished the post about how to appreciate Chinese Lingnan Penjing (“Lingnan” means Southern, “penjing” is bonsai in Chinese). While I think that most of the points mentioned can be applied not only on Lingnan Penjing, but penjing in general, these points are nevertheless worth sharing.
An excellent Lingnan penjing should have the following characteristics:
Style
The base of the tree truck should look strong, yet rugged and aged.
The branches should be naturally in proportion, with focus point clearly defined.
The size of the tree crown should get smaller as it goes to the top in a natural way.
Amount of roots showing should be just right. If too much roots is shown, it may affect the health of the tree. If not enough roots is shown, the tree may not look as strong and aged as we want it to be.
Pruning Techniques
Don’t leave (or at least minimize) any trace of cutting and pruning
Be aware of the density of the branches. While an unreasonably naked tree with very few branches is bad, a tree with overly stuffed foliage that block the view of the structure of the truck and branches is equally undesirable.
Growing Condition
The tree should be growing healthily with no pest and disease problem.
Unless the tree naturally has yellow or variegated leaves, the tree should have shiny, green foliage.
Flowering species should be able to fully blossom.
Fruit-bearing species should be able to bear many fruits.
Ambiance
An excellent penjing can touch its audiences with resonance, as if bringing its audiences to the scenery that is presented in the pot.
Pot / Container
Size of pot – A pot too small makes the penjing look too crammed, while a pot too large makes the penjing look too empty. (A pot too large also lessens the relative size and strength of the tree(s) in the penjing.)
The color of pot should harmonize with the penjing.
The shape of the pot should complement with the size and style of the penjing.
Display Stand
The size, height, and shape of the display stand should match well with the size and style of the penjing.
Accessories & Background
The figurines, rocks, and accessories in the penjing should be in proportion with the tree(s), as well as with one another. The whole picture in the penjing should look natural.
Titling
A great title brings life into the penjing, suggesting another perspective of the penjing to its audiences, inviting the audiences to view the penjing in another way, so to understand the thoughts and emotions of the penjing artist that may be hidden inside the art.
From time to time, I receive emails from customers asking me for more details about the few figurines of significant Chinese historical characters that are now selling in Happy Bonsai Shop. Some of these figurines are the most popular characters in Chinese history. And today, I would like to introduce one of my favorite Chinese historical character – Zhuge Liang (諸葛亮).
If you play video games, I bet you know him already. Zhuge Liang’s reputation for being an unparalleled genius is fully emphasized in his role in video games (usually his intelligence power is highest among all characters). Or if you have been in China before, you may have come across statues of a man wearing a robe and holding a hand fan made of crane feathers. Yes, that’s Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang in a video gameStatue of Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang, also known as Kong Ming (孔明), was a chancellor (Chinese: 丞相) of Shu Han Kingdom during China’s turbulent era of Three Kingdoms (220 -280). He is often recognized as the greatest and most accomplished strategist in Chinese history. Zhuge Liang was also known as a contemporary of Guan Yu, the patron saint of martial arts.
Through researching and self-taught, Zhuge Liang was not only a master in astronomy and geography, but also an expert in military strategy and tactics. In his early year, Zhuge Liang lived in a thatched cottage, working as a farmer while studying (Zhuge Liang’s living in relative aloofness and others’ underestimation of his intelligence are probably how Zhuge Liang earned his nickname – “Crouching Dragon” (臥龍)).
Zhuge Liang in the movie - The Battle of Red Cliff
A painting of Zhuge Liang
Legend states that Liu Bei (劉備), then a descendent of the royal Han house, heard of Zhuge Liang’s great wisdom and went three times to Zhuge Liang’s little cottage, inviting Zhuge Liang to be his military advisor. Zhuge Liang was touched by Liu Bei’s sincerity. Zhuge Liang then shared his plan of reunifying the whole nation. Liu Bei was enlightened and pleased, adopted Zhuge Liang’s plan – setting up his kingdom in the west and allying with the state of Wu in the East. From then on, Zhuge Liang (by then 26 years old) helped Liu Bei to reunify the nation and establish the Han Dynasty.
Zhuge Liang assisted Liu Bei through many difficult situations, and his wisdom and achievement were popularized by the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義) written in the Ming Dynasty.
