The Origin of Bonsai 0 9

Many believe that the art of creating miniature trees and plants originated in Japan. This is because the very word “bonsai” is derived from two Japanese terms — “bon” and “sai,” which translate to “tray” and “to plant, to cultivate” respectively.

In fact, the tradition of forming small replicas of large plants in pots came from China, where the first images of miniature landscapes with vegetation appeared as early as 200 BC. It was only in the 11th century that Japanese monks studying Buddhist philosophy in China brought bonsai back to their homeland.

Initially, only very wealthy people could afford this hobby, but over time, the art of growing living miniatures became accessible to everyone, turning into an important part of Japanese culture. In Japan, a unique school of bonsai developed, where alongside the planting of dwarf trees about 54 cm tall, the artificial cultivation of various tree species flourished, reaching three hundred by the end of the 19th century.

Bonsai began to penetrate Europe only in the early 20th century, and it was not until 1937, at the World Expo in Paris, that the general public could become acquainted with this unusual form of art.