BONSAI STILES (part 1)

BONSAI STYLES

In the bonsai cultivation the Japanese have given great importance to the rules concerning the various forms that the plant must take; for this reason the styles that aim to achieve aesthetic perfection have been created. Styles arise from the observation and imitation of nature and masterpieces created by great masters.

Each plant has its own personality and characteristics that the bonsai must try to accentuate as much as possible without losing the naturalness of the living being. It is important that the intervention of man should be noted as little as possible and let the observer only imagine the action of time and seasons.

Below is a brief description of the various styles. Note that if each of the styles has fixed basic characteristics, the most precise setting rules may vary.

ERECT FORMAL (Chokkan)
It is typical in plants that grow upwards in nature, like conifers which can maintain vigor despite adverse conditions. It is a very binding style that obliges to fixed rules, defining perfectly the arrangement of the branches and the trunk. The latter will be rigid and straight, with the main branch, to the right or to the left, about 1/3 of the total height, the second branch to 1/3 of the distance between the first branch and the apex in the opposite direction to the first , the third branch facing posterior to a distance equal to 1/3 of the distance between the second branch and the apex and so on, with less attention for what concerns the last branches.

CASUAL ERECT (Moyogi)
In this case the bonsai is formed by a more or less sinuous trunk. Common to most plants, it is probably the easiest to accomplish.

INCLINED (Shakan)
Bonsai style characterized by: trunk and vegetation very inclined to the right or left, strong roots and evident on the surface of the soil and arranged in the direction of inclination of the plant

REVERSE BROOM (Hokidachi)
It is the classic shape of a broadleaf, very similar to an upside down broom, with branches branching off roughly from the same point and are more or less the same length. The trunk must be visibly conical and without any curve.

MOVED BY THE WIND (Fukinagashi)
he presence of strong wind, which leads them to have elongated branches on one side and a trunk often rich in dry wood or numerous curves.