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Bonsai Figurines Featured Articles

Zhuge Liang (Kong Ming) – The Crouching Dragon

Kong Ming Bonsai Figurine
Zhuge Liang figurine in Happy Bonsai Shop

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 Kong Ming Figurine
Zhuge Liang in a video game
Zhuge Liang Kong Ming Figurine
Statue 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 Kong Ming Figurine
Zhuge Liang in the movie - The Battle of Red Cliff

Zhuge Liang Kong Ming Figurine
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.

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Featured Articles Journal

Lingnan Penjing – Introduced in South China Morning Post

Lingnan Penjing in SCMP

 

Check out this article in South China Morning Post which introduces penjing (bonsai in Chinese) and the resources available in Hong Kong for those who want to learn penjing in this bustling rambunctious, cramped city.

The article also introduces Teacher Wong Chau-Shing and Institute of Lingnan Penjing. 😀

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Bonsai Trees Featured Articles

Elaeagnus – The Silverberry

Elaeagnus-Bonsai-Tree

I have two rooted Elaeagnus conferta (胡颓子in Chinese) on my bonsai table. I have never given them much thought, but only until recently, my interest in this tree aroused when I saw a beautiful twin trunk Elaeagnus conferta in the bonsai collection of Mr. Wu Cheng-Fa, Chairman of Hong Kong Penjing and Artstone Society.

Elaeagnus-Bonsai-Tree Elaeagnus-Bonsai-Tree
My two rooted Elaeagnus conferta

Common name: Thory Elaeagnus, Wild Olive
Native: China – Guangxi, Yunnan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia

Elaeagnus-Bonsai-Tree
There usually is a layer of silvery brownish scales covering the leaves of Elaeagnus, giving the tree a silver to grey-brown look from a distance (that’s probably where the nickname “Silverberry” comes from).
The flowers are small, yet fragrant. Fruit is a fleshy drupe with a single seed that is edible. Chinese use the fruits and the leaves of Elaeagnus for food and medicine.

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Featured Articles Journal

Chi Lin Nunnery – A Must-go for All Bonsai Lovers in Hong Kong

Every once a while, I receive emails from bonsai lovers or family / friends of some bonsai lovers asking me for suggestions of sightseeing location in Hong Kong.  Of course, they are not expecting answers like Ocean Park or Times Square, but somewhere with trees and bonsai pots and accessories that can make bonsai lovers all happy and excited.  And one of the few places that I would suggest is Chi Lin Nunnery.

You can find more photos in the album of Chi Lin Nunnery – Bonsai Garden in Hong Kong in Happy Bonsai Gallery.

hong-kong-bonsai-garden
Chi Lin Nunnery is located in Kowloon.  The closet subway station is Diamond Hill.

hong-kong-bonsai-garden hong-kong-bonsai-garden
Chi Lin Nunnery does not have the largest bonsai collection, but the trees that grow in the nunneary are so beautiful.  When I was in there, I felt like I was in a magnified landscape bonsai.

hong-kong-bonsai-garden
In Chi Lin Nunnery, trees that are grow on the ground are also trimmed beautifully, as those in a bonsai pot.

hong-kong-bonsai-garden hong-kong-bonsai-garden
Besides bonsai trees, there are also a suiseki gallery.

hong-kong-bonsai-garden hong-kong-bonsai-garden hong-kong-bonsai-garden
Some beautiful bonsai in the nunnery.
RIGHT: This Fire-thorn ( Pyracantha crenulata, 火棘 in Chinese) is protected by a tent so to avoid the birds from eating the fruits on the tree.

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Gallery

Bonsai Exhibition in Hong Kong Flower Show 2011

The annual Hong Kong Flower Show was held from March 11-20 at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay this year. While the flower show was more or less the same like last year’s, the bonsai exhibition inside the flower show was great. There were more bonsai displayed this year, and the overall quality of the bonsai was higher.

Here I would like to thank William Lee – fellow bonsai apprentice of Teacher Wong – for sharing the photos he took in the bonsai exhibition with us in Happy Bonsai.

For more photos, please visit the album of Bonsai Exhibition in HK Flower Show 2011 in Happy Bonsai Gallery.

Check out this post for Bonsai Exhibition in Hong Kong Flower Show 2010.

Hong Kong Bonsai Show Hong Kong Bonsai Show

Hong Kong Bonsai Show Hong Kong Bonsai Show

Hong Kong Bonsai Show Hong Kong Bonsai Show Hong Kong Bonsai Show

Hong Kong Bonsai Show Hong Kong Bonsai Show Hong Kong Bonsai Show

Hong Kong Bonsai Show Hong Kong Bonsai Show

Hong Kong Bonsai Show

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Featured Articles Gallery

Antique Chinese Pottery and Figurines in Qu Yi Garden

Besides all the 1000+ beautiful bonsai, suiseki stones and figurines, there also is a very long gallery filled with ancient bonsai pots in Mr. Wu Cheng-Fa’s amazing bonsai gallery in Shenzhen – Qu Yi Garden (趣怡园).

Antique Chinese Bonsai Pot Antique Chinese Bonsai Pot
RIGHT:  Entrance of the antique Chinese bonsai pot gallery in Qu Yi Garden

Antique Chinese Bonsai Pot Antique Chinese Bonsai Pot
LEFT: I really like this wooden sculpture that is placed in the entrance of the gallery.

Ancient Chinese Bonsai Pot Ancient Chinese Bonsai Pot Ancient Chinese Bonsai Pot
The pot on the left is made of peach clay (桃花泥) and the pot on the right is made of purple clay (aka zisha clay, 紫泥).  Beautiful carving work, full of details.

Antique Chinese Bonsai Pot Antique Chinese Bonsai Pot

Antique Chinese Bonsai Pot Antique Chinese Bonsai Pot
Antique Chinese Bonsai Pot Antique Chinese Bonsai Pot
These few pots are from the Qing dynasty.  I remember I saw some bonsai pots in the gallery that are from period as early as the Yuen dynasty (A.D. 1271-1368).

Antique Chinese Bonsai Pot Antique Chinese Bonsai Pot
Beautiful art this is, isn’t it?

Antique Chinese Bonsai Pot Antique Chinese Bonsai Pot
Antique Chinese Bonsai Pot

There are also many figurines and suiseki rocks in the gallery.

You can find more photos in the album of Qu Yi Garden – Antique China Pots and Stone Art in Happy Bonsai Gallery.

You can check out this post – Visiting Qu Yi Garden – A Big Big Penjing Gallery! – for more about Qy Yi Garden and its bonsai displays.

And definitely check out this post – Suiseki Stones & Figurines in Qu Yi Garden – if you like beautiful suiseki stones and antique Chinese figurines.

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Featured Articles Gallery

Suiseki Stones & Figurines in Qu Yi Garden

As said in the post – Visiting Qu Yi Garden – A Big Big Penjing Gallery, the bonsai gallery of Mr. Wu Cheng-Fa (Chairman of Hong Kong Penjing and Artstone Society) does not only have thousands of penjing, but also a huge gallery of antique bonsai pots and a showroom of figurines and suiseki stones.

Wu's Suiseki Bonsai Gallery
Doesn’t this suiseki rock look like a citrus cut in half?

Wu's Suiseki Bonsai Gallery
Does this look like an old woman looking at a duck?

Wu's Suiseki Bonsai Gallery Wu's Suiseki Bonsai Gallery
These daiza – the carved wood bases – are so beautiful; very well carved and perfectly conforming to the shape of the suiseki stone.

Wu's Suiseki Bonsai Gallery
This carved stone is one of my favorite in Wu’s suiseki stone showroom.

Wu's Suiseki Bonsai Gallery

Wu's Suiseki Bonsai Gallery Wu's Suiseki Bonsai Gallery
I am told that many of these figurines cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Wu's Suiseki Bonsai Gallery

Happy Bonsai Shop has this Zhong Kui – the Chinese Ghostbuster -figurine for sale too. Of course, not in a “antique and collection price”, but in a very affordable price haha 😀

 

Wu's Suiseki Bonsai Gallery

Wu's Suiseki Bonsai Gallery Wu's Suiseki Bonsai Gallery

What a great way to display a collection of figurines!  It is easy, convenient, and interesting 😀 I definitely will give it a try with my figurine collection!

Check out this post –Antique Chinese Pottery and Figurines in Qu Yi Garden – to find out more about the antique Chinese pottery gallery in Qu Yi Garden. Lots of beautiful bonsai pots there 😉

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Featured Articles Gallery

Visiting Qu Yi Garden – A Big Big Penjing Gallery!

Last Friday, with many fellow members of our bonsai club (Institute of Lingnan Penjing, Hong Kong), we visited Mr. Wu Cheng-Fa’s amazing bonsai gallery in Shenzhen – Qu Yi Garden (趣怡园 aka Tracy Penjing Gallery).

Wu's Penjing Bonsai Gallery Wu's Penjing Bonsai Gallery

A corner of Qu Yi Garden

Mr. Wu Cheng-Fa is the Chairman of Hong Kong Penjing and Artstone Society, as well as WBFF international consultant. Obviously he is one bonsai enthusiast. But moreover, Mr. Wu Cheng-Fa is an art collector who has dedicated much of his time and wealth on promoting the art of Chinese penjing to the world.

Wu's Penjing Bonsai Gallery
With Mr. Wu Cheng-Fa (吳成發先生), the owner of this amazing bonsai gallery

With his large, beautiful collection of penjing, bonsai pots, and suiseki stones displaying in Qu Yi Garden, Mr. Wu Cheng-Fa invites fellow bonsai lovers and bonsai enthusiasts to his huge gallery/workshop, and together, share bonsai knowledge and ideas.

Wu's Penjing Bonsai Gallery Wu's Penjing Bonsai Gallery

RIGHT: Teacher Wong shares some bonsai stories of  his younger days with the club members.
LEFT: WBFF Chairman – Mr. Hu Yun-Hua – came over to our group and joined the conversation.

Wu's Penjing Bonsai Gallery
A group photo of our bonsai club members with Teacher Wong Chiu Shing (黄就成先生), Mr. Hu Yun-Hua (胡運驊先生), Mr. Liu Chuan-Guan (劉傳剛先生, Director of Hainan Province Penjing Society), and Mr. Zheng Zai-Quan (鄭在權先生, Vice-Chairman of Hong Kong Penjing and Artstone Society)

There are more than 2,000 bonsai, antique bonsai pots, and suiseki stones in Qu Yi Garden. And among the 2000 bonsai in the garden, more than 1000 bonsai have already been developed to a presentable stage. While there are bonsai of many different styles/schools in Qu Yi Garden, bonsai of Lingnan style take up the majority in the Wu’s gallery.

Wu's Penjing Bonsai Gallery Wu's Penjing Bonsai Gallery

Wu's Penjing Bonsai Gallery Wu's Penjing Bonsai Gallery

Wu's Penjing Bonsai Gallery Wu's Penjing Bonsai Gallery

For more photos, please visit the album of Qu Yi Garden in Happy Bonsai Gallery.

There are also a suiseki stone gallery and large gallery of antique bonsai pots in Qu Yi Garden. I will put up photos taken in those gallery as soon as I can. Please hang on! Happy Bonsai!! 😉

Wu's Penjing Bonsai Gallery

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Bonsai Figurines Featured Articles

Shiwan Figurine Faces

Shiwan figurines are known for their colorful and lively facial expressions. Here I would like to share with you some photos of the faces of these beautiful ceramic figurines.

For more photos, please visit the album of Shiwan Figurine Faces in Happy Bonsai Gallery.

Buddha figurines Buddha figurines Buddha figurines
Buddha-figurines Buddha figurines Buddha figurines
Buddha figurines Buddha figurines Buddha figurines

All photos are taken during my last trip to Shiwan, Foshan.

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Featured Articles Gallery

Suiseki Exhibition in 2010 Guangzhou International Bonsai Invitation Exhibition

In 2010 Guangzhou International Bonsai Invitation Exhibition, aside from the fascinating bonsai, there was also a suiseki exhibition, showing some amazingly beautiful rocks. I am sorry for the delay, but I am sure many of you would like to check out photos of the rocks in the suiseki exhibition nevertheless.

For more photos, please visit the album of Suiseki Exhibition in 2010 GZ Int’l Bonsai Invitation Exhibition in Happy Bonsai Gallery.

Suiseki Exhibition in GZ Bonsai Show Suiseki Exhibition in GZ Bonsai Show

Suiseki Stone – 孔雀石 (Malachite)
Title – 人與自然 (Direct Translation: Men and Nature)

All the suiseki stones presented in the suiseki exhibition had very beautiful daiza. Not only was the wood base carefully carved to the details of the stone, it also integrated closely to the theme in such an harmony. How could one not love suiseki after seeing all these beautiful work of nature together with such skillful craftsmanship!

Suiseki Exhibition in GZ Bonsai Show Suiseki Exhibition in GZ Bonsai Show

Suiseki Stone – 黄蜡石 (Chrismatite)
Title – 風山水起 (Meaning: Things will become striking, extraordinary)

Suiseki Exhibition in GZ Bonsai Show Suiseki Exhibition in GZ Bonsai Show

Suiseki Exhibition in GZ Bonsai Show

Suiseki Stone – 青花石 (Don’t know the stone type in English, could anyone help?)
Title – 美人魚 (Literal Meaning: Mermaid)

Suiseki Exhibition in GZ Bonsai Show

Suiseki Stone – 紅壁玉 (Don’t know the stone type in English too, could anyone help?)
Title – 母子情 (Literal Meaning: Love of Mother and Child)

Suiseki Exhibition in GZ Bonsai Show

Suiseki Stone – 戈壁石組合
Title – 守望家園 (Literal Meaning: Guarding the Family)