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It’s the small things that matter

October 12, 2017 | Michael Turtle | 14 Comments

LOCAL TRADITION

Bonsai art, Japan

It’s odd. Normally the idea of growing a tree is to make it as large as possible. Or, at least, allow its potential to fill the space available. It seems counterintuitive to intentionally try to stunt the development of a plant, to twist its branches and manipulate its growth in such a demented way.

Except in Japan it’s not a matter of ‘stunting’ it. There’s nothing ‘demented’ about it. This is art. This is bonsai.

Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Japan

Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Japan

For more than a thousand years, the Japanese have found beauty in manipulating the shape of a growing tree and limiting its size. The techniques of this particular branch of art and the history of bonsai are far too complicated for me to understand but I do appreciate that there is a great skill in a good bonsai artist. They use a variety of methods to mould the final shape – pruning the roots, wiring the branches, clamping the trunks, grafting on other plants and trimming the leaves. The hardest thing is to imagine the final outcome in their head and encourage the tree to grow that way.

Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Japan

Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Japan

Omiya Bonsai Art Museum

On my way up north on a trip from Tokyo I decided to take a leaf from the Japanese and stop in the city of Omiya to visit the Bonsai Art Museum to learn more. It’s the first public museum of its kind in the world celebrating this unique floral creativity. All around the museum are small bonsai nurseries because this is a traditional industry of this part of Japan.

Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Japan

Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Japan

There are five main characteristics I discovered about the bonsai. There’s much more to it than just making a small tree.

  • Miniaturisation: OK, so the first point is just about making a small tree. But the key is to make it a size that will fit in one of the special bonsai pots, the decoration of which is in art in itself
  • Proportion: The idea is to make it look as though it is a real tree, just smaller. Everything must be in proportion and the skill here is to not let anything grow faster or larger than the other parts
  • Asymmetry: Like all good art, the immediate reaction of the eye is important. With bonsai, symmetry is discouraged because it invokes no great emotion. Good aesthetics should make the mind imagine and create for itself.
  • Naturalism: There should be no trace of the artist left on the final bonsai tree. Although a lot has been manipulated to create the work, it should look as though it has happened completely naturally.
  • Poignancy: This last point is the hardest to grasp but it goes to the root of bonsai art. Just like the cherry blossoms that are so famous in Japan, people like to find an ephemeral quality in these trees. The idea is to make people aware of the transiency of life and nature, to have empathy with imperfection. This is what makes a great artwork.

Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Japan

Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Japan

The Bonsai Art Museum in Omiya is divided into two parts. The galleries inside go through some of these techniques and show you the history of the art. There are also exhibits about the pots of the ways the trees can be displayed. Outside is a garden with about 40 examples of bonsai trees. Unfortunately it was a pretty wet and miserable day when I went, otherwise it would have been a nice place to have sat and contemplated things. You know, ephemeral things like transiency and imperfection and those bonsai buzz words I mentioned earlier.

Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, Japan

After all, it’s the small things in life that matter.

>> More info here about the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum <<

Reader Interactions

    Comments Cancel reply

  1. Nat |

    April 15, 2013 at 2:57 pm

    Reply

    I love Bonsai trees and bought one for myself. It died within two weeks. Not sure what I did but it is not as easy as it looks.

    • Michael Turtle |

      April 16, 2013 at 11:47 pm

      Reply

      No, I think it’s actually quite tricky. I seem to remember I had one when I was a kid as well… but it can’t have lasted too long either. I guess they don’t have very big roots so you need to be careful with the amount you water them.

    • jun |

      November 26, 2013 at 8:17 pm

      Reply

      Bonsai is like a person.You must know its likes and dislikes,meaning how do you care the plants’ wholebeing.I assure you,it will last a lifetime.

      • Michael Turtle |

        November 29, 2013 at 1:05 am

        Reply

        Beautiful! I love the way you put it… and you’re spot on!

  2. Arjen - On My Way To Freedomland |

    April 17, 2013 at 12:06 am

    Reply

    Those pine trees are beautiful. Give them bits of water but often. Also make sure the water has a low lime content. Anyways, thanks for sharing!

    • Michael Turtle |

      April 24, 2013 at 2:25 pm

      Reply

      It’s lucky I’m not a gardener – I don’t even know what lime content is…?

  3. Jennifer |

    April 17, 2013 at 3:54 am

    Reply

    I love Bonsai and would enjoy this museum! We bought a Bonsai tree about 2 years ago and honestly, it is a miracle it is still alive and getting new branches all the time. I really don’t have a green thumb.

    • Michael Turtle |

      April 24, 2013 at 2:32 pm

      Reply

      I’m impressed it’s still thriving – especially with all the travel you do! I think they take a lot of effort to look after…

  4. Stephanie - The Travel Chica |

    April 18, 2013 at 8:56 am

    Reply

    I actually came upon a bonsai art exhibit in Sucre, Bolivia. A pleasant surprise.

    • Michael Turtle |

      April 24, 2013 at 2:39 pm

      Reply

      That’s a rather strange place to find one. I know Japan and Brazil have very strong links… maybe some of the culture has spread out a bit further in South America.

  5. flip |

    April 20, 2013 at 4:30 am

    Reply

    We used to have a bonsai back home in Manila and surprisingly it lasted for a couple of years before it died. It really is gorgeous and make a nice decoration in our living room.

    • Michael Turtle |

      April 24, 2013 at 2:54 pm

      Reply

      I suppose that’s the great thing about bonsai trees, you can keep them indoors and brighten up somewhere like the living room.

  6. Andrew |

    May 1, 2013 at 3:57 am

    Reply

    I would love to do that museum. What I find most interesting is how they keep the leaves so small. I would think a tree would put out normal sized leaves, despite the smaller trunks, but I guess not.

    Have you done the flower arranging in Japan too? There is one aspect of that that involves the asymmetry as well.

    • Michael Turtle |

      May 10, 2013 at 2:08 am

      Reply

      I didn’t try (or see) any flower arranging but I’ve heard a fair bit about it. I love the way these Japanese forms of art are all based on very simple ideas but can produce really beautiful things that actually make you think.

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This is the website of travel writer, Michael Turtle. After working in broadcast journalism for a decade in Australia, Michael left Sydney to travel the world indefinitely and write about the places, people and experiences he discovers. This isn't a diary - these are real stories from the world.

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