Bonsai, as a Japanese artwork form, is greater regulated than it’s Chinese counterpart, the penjing. Bonsai attempts to obtain the right tree, at the same time as penjing tries to breed nature. This is why ideal styling exists in bonsai if you obey the ‘regulations’, while penjing go away you loose for your advent. As a end result those are the primary patterns :
Broom (Hokidachi or Hoki-zukuri)
A very harmonious fashion, this shape has branches that broaden at a sure top, forming an upside broom. This styling is specifically achieved thru a technique referred to as the “V” cut. The trunk is chopped where you want the branch to start to expand and then a deep V reduce is executed on the last trunk. This will induce buds to break near the cut. Zelkova serrata are infamous for this styling but maple and other deciduous species can without problems be styled that manner.
Formal Upright (Chokkan)
A tree styled the “chokkan” manner has a directly trunk tapering graciously from bottom to pinnacle. The first and biggest branch is regularly situated at 1/three of the desired peak of the tree and is at the proper or the left. The following branch is situated on the alternative side, at the same time as the 1/3 is within the again creating the belief intensity. As we take a look at the branch shape from backside to top, the branches have become thinner, creating a pyramidal shape.
Informal Upright (Moyogi)
This style could be very similar to the previously mentionned fashion as the equal regulations of design apply, however, the trunk isn’t directly but rather paperwork a sinuous shape at the same time as remaining tapered. This fashion is typically used with conifers.
Slanting (Shakan)
Once once more, this fashion is similar to the formal upright besides that the trunk is leaning on one aspect. Branches are grown uniformly on the trunk like the formal/informal upright patterns however the apex is tilted to the other aspect of the trunk giving a visible balanced effect.
Cascade (Kengai)
This styling requires an willing trunk that is ideally at a 45 degree attitude. The foremost portion of the foliage is under the pot line and on occasion goes past the pot itself. It regularly represents a tree growing at the facet of cliff. A deep pot is used for this style.
Semi-cascade (Han-Kengai)
Similar to the Kengai fashion, this fashion also has an inclinated trunk. However, the foliage stays at the peak of the pot line. In nature, we are able to see this fashion near a waterway, the foliage having grown on the side and leaning closer to the water. While the cascade style uses a deeper pot, this style uses a medium depth pot.
Windswept (Fukinagashi)
A “windswept” tree represents a tree that has been developing in a sure form due to herbal elements . Often resulting from sturdy wind, the trunk is continually inclinated in a certain path and all branches have grown at the same facet.
Literati (Bunjin)
This styling is frequently represented in Japanese artwork. It is a tree with a tall and sinuous trunk. The foliage only grows close to the summit of the tree. This styling is quite an exception to the rigorous policies of bonsai because it does now not have precise rules. It represents what the bunjin movement is in Japan: the look for liberty.
Group/Forest (Yose-ue)
This styling frequently represents a forest or a small cluster of bushes. It is meant to be styled in a manner so as to definitely represent the developing conduct of bushes in a group. Many techinques can be used to reap this styling and lots of notion techniques are used to create the phantasm of a woodland, or as Naka might say, “having the pleasant of the invisible beauty of nature”. To appreciate the Japanese art form, an bizarre variety of trees is prefered for this styling.
Raft (Ikadabuki)
The equal rules of the institution planting practice to this fashion. However, all of the trunks emerge from one common trunk. This technique is regularly performed with a department placed verticaly within the soil. The roots form this department and the upper a part of the vertical branch broaden secondary branches that will sooner or later come to be the trunks.
Multi-trunk Style (Sokan – Sankan)
This multi-trunk style has exceptional possibilities. The first, that’s referred to as “Sokan”, includes trunks emerging from the identical visible roots (nebari). The styling of the higher a part of the tree should recognize the equal rules as the formal / informal upright patterns formerly defined. Another variance consists of the identical however with three trunks rising from the seen roots. This is known as “Sankan”. You can also have more than 3 trunks however to appreciate Japanese bonsai, it’s miles prefered to have an bizarre variety of trunks.
Roots Over Rock (Ishitsuki)
This styling has the specific charactreristics of having many visible roots growing over a rock and locating their way to the pot/soil.
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