Introducing Bonsai Styles

If you are new to the ancient art of Bonsai, studying the popular Bonsai tree styles provides you with a solid reference for shaping and styling your Bonsai trees throughout their lifecycles. No matter which style you are following, it is important that the width of your Bonsai tree is thickest down at the base, and that it evenly and gradually tapers up to the tree’s highest tip. The lowest branch of the tree should grow no lower than one-third of the way up the tree, and that none of the branches that are lower than two-thirds of the way up point toward the front.

Although the art of Bonsai can seem very straight-forward and even limited in scope, in fact this highly disciplined art can result in many surprising and beautiful styles of tree. Investing time and energy in the art of Bonsai is highly rewarding, and you may find yourself absorbed by a practice that has been passed down through the centuries.

The Most Popular Styles

In the Japanese tradition, designs for the Bonsai tree are described according to one of several basic, named styles. The most popular styles include the formal upright style (chokkan) and informal upright style (moyogi), as well as the slanting (shakkan), cascade (kengai), semi-cascade (hen-kengai), literati (bunjingi), windswept (fukinagashi), double-trunk (sokan), forest (yose-ue) and broom (hokidachi) styles.

Formal Upright Bonsai Tree Styles (Chokkan) And Informal Upright (Moyogi)

The formal upright style is nearly the most common form used for shaping Bonsai trees in the Japanese tradition. This style is characterized by its perfectly straight, upright trunk, which features evenly spaced branches that are symmetrical on either side from one-third of the way up the trunk to the tip of the tree. This style resembles naturally grown trees which have been exposed to weather from all sides. Although simple, this style is difficult to replicate because of its perfection. For the informal upright style, the tree’s trunk has been bent into the shape of an ‘S’, with the curves diminishing toward the top of the tree. This is the most common style of Bonsai, and it resembles a naturally growing tree that has been met with opposing forces at various points in its life-cycle.

Semi-Cascade (Hen-kengai) And Full Cascade (Kengai)

For the semi-cascade style, the tree’s dominant branch or trunk begins to point toward the ground, just beyond the edge of its pot. Ideally, the cascade should seem to be a naturalistic sweep, a look which is difficult to achieve. This is intended to represent a mature plant which, struggling against nature’s forces has grown closer to the ground.

Specimens

Maple is a particularly popular specimen of bonsai tree, but only a handful is suitable for the art. The Japanese maple (acer palmatum) is one of the most widely used, and has been since ancient times. This includes the trident, green and red Japanese maple varieties. The Juniper bonsai, such as the Chinese juniper and Dwarf Garden juniper, are favored for their fast growth and long elegant branches. Cypress is popular amongst beginners and masters alike; and pine is often used thanks to its lush foliage. Finally, the Chinese Elm is naturally diminutive and looks balanced, making it a favorite with Bonsai artisans.

To get more information on the bonsai tree specimens, go to The Best Guide To Bonsai Trees at www.bonsaitreegardener.net and subscribe to their rss feed.

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