Portland Japanese Garden

2010 Bonsai Events TBA
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photo: Jonathan Ley

Bonsai (pronounced "bone-sigh") is a Japanese word that translates literally as "a planting in a shallow container." In modern usage, the term refers specifically to a dwarfed, artistically shaped tree in a container. Because a bonsai continues to grow, it is never "finished" as an art piece. The artist's work—and the bonsai's evolution—can continue for decades, making these spectacular plants, in essence, living sculptures.

What Is Bonsai?

The earliest known reference to potted trees is found in second-century Chinese literature...

A History of Bonsai

A particular scenery could then be reduced to its essence and distilled through the painter's own eyes and personality. Just like the painting, raw plant material could be examined, its essence and spirit found, and penjing created that perhaps could serve as a metaphor for the scholar's own emotional and spiritual state...

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Portland Japanese Garden, 611 SW Kingston, Portland, Oregon 97205 — info@japanesegarden.com — (503) 223-1321