A Brief History Of Bonsai Plant Cultivation

The following article is from a series of gardening articles and videos about bonsai care …

Bonsai gardening can offer so much more to you than merely a beautiful ornament. Granted, the unique beauty of the trees is truly a sight to behold. However, they also offer serenity in a disorganized world. Just as the ancient peoples of yesterday cultivated these wonderful little trees and gained from it the benefit of peace of mind, so too can the modern day bonsai gardener turn a creative hobby into a stress relieving experience.

The history of the bonsai tree began in early China, during the Han Dynasty, nearly 2000 years ago. Trees were first pruned to their miniature size so that their trunks would bear a similarity to various objects, such as animals, dragons or birds. Many myths and legends still exist surrounding the gnarled trunks of bonsai trees. Today, however, the bonsai trees are mainly pruned so that their foliage takes priority over any bark images. These are two of the bonsai art forms that are valued in the culture of today’s bonsai society.

Over many years, Japan and China began to integrate some of their unique cultures together and the bonsai tree was one of the many things that was incorporated into the highly cultured country of Japan. Initially, only the Buddhist monks engaged in this art form, yet eventually, the aristocracy took up the bonsai art and it became a status symbol for a long time. After this time and for many, many years afterwards, the bonsai art lay exclusively within the Japanese culture. As time passed and Japan began to open up its doors to other countries, bonsai art became highly sought after in North America for its serenity and beauty.

Bonsai trees have only been known in North America since the early 1900s. However, time has passed and now, garden lovers all over the world have the opportunity to experience bonsai art in their own gardens. The bonsai trees have a very significant and important history for the countries of Japan and China. As the world becomes smaller, so too do the cultural icons that define a country. Now these items can be used presently to connect people all over the world.

For more tips on bonsai gardens, visit: Bonsai Tree Care

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