Practical Bonsai Techniques
As It Is
As It Is the Song of Fixed Branches
The top branch stands tall, and the branches are placed in turn.
The four branches spread out in all directions, and each branch is regarded as a tree.
Each branch has its own tree state, competing for and responding to the clever arrangement.
The left and right branches are long and short in front and back, and they are stretched when they want to rise.
The pauses and setbacks reveal the depth of field, and the density and density take a lot of thought.
The vanguard of Dazhi runs to the front, and the coach of Dingzhi sits in the center.
Where there are branches, there must be branches, and the king, his ministers, and his envoys are as prescribed.
Don’t just leave the left and right sides, and go out shirtless and exposed.
As the sun moves around, potted trees naturally have a direction.
The layers do not cover each other and the branches do not cover each other. As you move, the scenery changes and the view is exposed and hidden.
1. Here are ten taboos and ten appropriates:
Ten taboos:
1. The branches of simple and straight trees should not be carved;
2. Avoid slippery branches of soft curved trees;
3. Avoid laxity in the clear and sparse tree style;
4. Avoid clutter in dense tree style;
5. The Qiaoqiao tree pose avoids being delicate;
6. The ancient clumsy tree style avoids crazy monsters;
7. Literati should avoid being thin;
8. Those who are strong, short and fat should avoid being bloated;
9. Avoid exposing corners when branch shape turns;
10. Avoid sharp branches and vein endings.
Ten tips:
1. A tree with many and lush branches should be peaceful;
2. A tree with few and delicate branches should be spread out calmly;
3. Hard-branched trees should be plump (hard but soft);
4. Curved branches and soft poles should be stiff (soft but hard);
5. A single branch on a tree with no support is tall and slightly wet;
6. If there are identical or similar branches, they should be compact and arranged unevenly;
7. Branches with ever-changing twists and turns should be flexible;
8. Horizontal branches or ridge branches with little change should be thick and thick;
9. If you like to use thin branches, you should use them vigorously;
10. Those who like to use strong branches should use them plainly.
Second, there are three points in selecting piles
The first point is to look at the roots. The roots should be flattened and have a trumpet shape. , should be flat, like the back of a loach. The starting line means that if there are multiple lines in a general linear shape, then it should be like the strokes of calligraphy, interspersed, gathered, scattered, wrapped and crossed, all with meaning.
The second point is to look at Qian. There are three points to look at Qian. One is Qiangu, which requires pits (horse eyes) and twists (raised water lines). The other is Qianqu. There are two kinds of Qian. The first type of music is relaxing and ups and downs. This kind of music is usually seen in curved poles. It cannot be a snake-shaped or earthworm-shaped music, or a music with right or acute angles. It is a dead song and is not advisable.
The second type of music is , the curve of a straight pole, the straight pole should not be too straight, otherwise it will have no posture, so it should be straight while containing the curve. This kind of music is usually large-scale and straightforward, with details clearly visible. The pole moves straight, but has many changes in curves and joints, or there may be scars, holes, tumors, wounds, dead peaks, stumps, etc., which means there must be rich texture changes.
The third point when looking at the tree trunk is the closing phase. The so-called closing tip gradually changes from thick to thin, with a natural transition and a satisfactory turn. The last thing is to look at the support. The so-called support is to accompany the grafted branches. It is the original branch support that can be used when cutting piles. Generally, this kind of branch support has suitable branch point, angle and thickness. It can shorten the molding time considerably, but the purchased pile head , Marriage entrustments are generally not well kept.
There are many advantages to digging and cutting the piles yourself. For example, if the marriage companion is retained well, the formation time can even be shortened by 4-5 years. According to these criteria, there is no bad pile when selecting piles.
Why are there cliffs? What do they represent?
Its tilts, turns, and setbacks all reflect the tension of life under harsh conditions
It does not turn straight down into a cliff. Strictly speaking, it is a cliff pile in nature. It is the most rare. Suppress the strong and support the weak.
3. Stake treatment
Leave shade roots. The roots exposed on the soil surface in the natural environment are called yang roots and have no rooting ability. Only the yin roots under the soil have the ability to root. Miscellaneous trees create piles, and not all the roots are useful.
Anyone who has studied botany should know that the absorption of water, fertilizer and nutrients by plant roots relies on the exchange of cells in the root hairs on the fibrous roots with the soil. Unless there are soil balls, these absorptive root hairs are not available in ordinary bare root piles, so the length of the root system is not directly proportional to whether roots can be generated. Be sure to cut in place to avoid secondary root cutting after the live pile, which may cause damage to the tree stump. Disinfection and sealing of root systems. Any "yin root" part under the soil. If the root system is cut in place, it will definitely cause wounds. Wounds are the source of infection, and this must be dealt with. Many people die because of root wound infection, which leads to rot and death. The treatment method is to use a sharp knife to smooth the cut. This facilitates plant healing and the formation of new roots. Then use erythromycin ointment or the like, or potassium permanganate solution if it can be soaked.
This is wound disinfection. Disinfectants can be broad-spectrum bactericidal drugs used on all animals and plants. Then comes the sealing. Seal to isolate the source of infection. In my personal experience, there are only two sealing substances that are easy to obtain and have good effects: one is wax seal, and the other is black glass glue.
White latex, paint, etc. are not available. Root sealing is ignored by many people, it is just the stem sealing. White latex is organic and eutrophic. It will cause the growth of fungi on its own. White latex is water and breathable, so it is useless. Then there is the treatment of the shaft wound of the stump. The method of treating root wounds is basically the same. But the function is not only to isolate the source of rot, but also to avoid water loss to avoid shrinking branches and insufficient germination. Then there is the cultivation substrate. The requirement of the cultivation substrate is to be sterile and prevent infection. The pellets have good structure, are loose and breathable, and have good drainage properties. to facilitate rooting. In addition, the pH value of the soil needs to be adjusted according to the pH needs of the tree stump.
The last step is cultivation and care. The most important things in the cultivation and maintenance of piles are the water control of tree roots and the moisturizing of tree trunks.
"Dry roots, wet leaves" This is the growth law of plants.
Proper water control and transportation of root pot soil without water accumulation is a good rooting environment for tree stumps. It can be thought that as long as it is loose and breathable and does not accumulate water, it will not hurt if you pour a little more water. Moisturizing the trunk is to save life. Before the transpiration of the branches and leaves of the stump and the absorption of the root system reach a balance, it will continue the life of the stump. The methods that can be adopted include frequently spraying water (tree poles), wrapping with absorbent fabric (breathable to avoid high temperature damage to the skin), and wrapping with film to moisturize. etc. You can also put a hanging bottle on the tree stump. It is slower than hair rooting but the impact is not great.
IV. Rules for cutting piles
Look at the branches. If the branch angle is less than 30 degrees, cut one and leave one. If it is greater than 30 degrees, do not cut it flat first. There is no need for straight poles. For changes, cut off 8-10 centimeters first, leave the curve when you see it, saw it straight, and saw it straight out, which is the above principle. According to the angle. Once you've done all this in one step, then you can make a choice, and it won't be so confusing. First, choose overlapping branches and whorled branches. Overlapping branches are branches that go in basically the same direction at a branch point. Whorled branches are a branch type in which many branches grow in all directions at the same height of the trunk. For such a branch type, the general principle is to keep only the relatively best-looking branch. The method of leaving two branches must be one long and one short. This is what I said before, "Two branches are divided into short and long". To sum up, at the same height of the trunk, no matter the position of the branches, a maximum of two branches can be left. More than two branches are not allowed. But when leaving two branches, be careful not to leave opposite branches. high? The height is not taken into account, it depends on the shape of the tree. It should be as high as it looks best. To put it simply, the height of the most beautiful and prominent stem on the pile is used as the height. "One branch sees twists and turns" and the branches all have the same meaning. That is to say, the most interesting branch is the main branch. Just leave the branch until it can show its full beauty. There is no specific size requirement for the high and low points. In addition, the "twigs growing inside sharp bends" that I talked about yesterday also need to be removed. I have experienced the harm to growing branches before. Told it in detail. "Taboo branches" in the conventional sense are all unsightly, so get rid of them first. Then there is the issue of the length of the cut branches. It still depends on the planting of tree seeds. This requires having a tree in mind first. You need to have a concept of what the tree will look like in the future, that is, the conceptual composition. Cut the length of the pile according to your intention.
5. How to grow stumps
How to improve the survival rate of tree stumps Yangjiang Zeng Xianye How to grow living stumps is the most important issue for every bonsai creator. The pile embryo is the foundation of pile landscape creation. No matter how good the pile embryo is, if it cannot survive, no matter how brilliant the concept and composition design are, it will be helpless. There are certain rules for tree growth, which are divided into vegetative growth period, reproductive growth period, nutrient accumulation period and dormancy period.
There are twenty-four seasons throughout the year. Plants in each season have corresponding growth patterns. This is a summary of previous experience. It is a regular thing, and the creation of pile scenes must respect these laws and adapt to these laws. Conditions for the survival of tree stumps. Tree stumps are divided into old stumps, prime stumps and young stumps. The survival rate of replanting young piles and mature piles is the highest. Harada is very simple, that is, the nutrient screen tube of the tree pillar itself has not aged, the regeneration energy is strong, and the cell division is active, so the survival rate is high. 2. The excavation of tree stumps must be in the late dormancy period, when the buds are full. As far as Guangdong is concerned, the best time is after the Great Cold and before the Qingming Festival: the specific tree species are different. The cold-resistant species with deciduous leaves such as Quemei, Yu, Pu, and Pomegranate are the best. For mountain pine and black pine, the best conditions are 10 days before and after the severe cold. Evergreen tropical tree species such as mulberry, mountain orange, boxwood, podocarpus, Fujian tea, etc. are best after the beginning of spring and before the beginning of summer. Ancient trees. The old giant piles are best before the severe cold and after the winter solstice. In short, there is only one rule. However, the climate and environment of each place are different, and the tree species are different, so they must be flexibly grasped. 3. Master the dialectical relationship between environment, light, humidity and temperature difference. The survival rate of tree stumps has a great relationship with the environment in which the stumps are raised. Generally speaking, it is better to have a place with strong winds and full sunlight from the north to the south. After the stump is excavated, the saturated humidity of the stump must be maintained to prevent water loss. If the cultivation soil is too dry during the cultivation of the pile, the water in the tree body will flow back to the cultivation soil. If the cultivation soil is too wet and the roots of the pile will be soaked, it will be detrimental to wound healing, cell division and the growth of new roots. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain a balance between the dry body humidity and the soil humidity; the temperature is best between 10°C and 25°C. Increasing the upper temperature can promote the growth of new roots, so the soil should be exposed to sunlight, and the surface can also be covered with black sand or black plastic film to help increase the soil temperature. On the contrary, the stem body can maintain humidity by spraying water, and the well can promote the evaporation of water in the stem body through light, and then absorb it through the root system. Repeated cycles make the nutrient transport screen tube unobstructed, prompting the pile body to adjust itself, and grow new roots as soon as possible. Method of growing piles 1. Stump tree treatment. The roots are divided into Yang roots and soil roots. The roots exposed on the mud surface are called Yang roots and are difficult to sprout new roots after sawing. The roots that are buried in the soil are called fleshy roots and are easy to sprout new roots. Young roots are more likely to produce new roots than thick roots, and undried fibrous roots are more likely to produce new roots than young roots. Slightly longer roots are easier to root than short-pruned roots, so large piles and ancient piles can be appropriately placed with long roots, and then gradually retracted after they survive to facilitate potting. 2. Treatment of branches. The characteristic of the Lingnan pile scene is that the branches are cut, that is, the branches are replaced by the sides through many times. Gradually it becomes the epitome of a tall tree that tapers gradually. Cutting the stakes means selecting the main trunk and companion brackets based on the intended composition. The length of the companion brackets should be short. 3. Treatment of cultivation soil. The cultivation soil needs to be sterile, hydrophobic, delicate and breathable. Fresh coarse river sand is best, followed by alluvial soil from the mountainside. Old soil and garden soil cannot be used. The cultivation soil is a mixture of 8 parts river sand and 2 parts red mud, which is suitable for most tree species that require slightly acidic soil. Coarse red mud is best for pine and cypress species. 4. Wooden boxes, bamboo baskets, and rough tile basins are the best containers for raising piles, and the criteria are water-repellent and breathable. If the container is too large, it will be difficult to increase the soil temperature. Therefore, it is appropriate to cultivate soil to cover the root surface with a thickness of about 2 cm. It is better to maintain a space of 5 cm between the root cutout and the container. 5. The root and dry cutouts can be covered with white latex, and the roots are soaked in 500PPPm potassium permanganate aqueous solution. 12 hours, or dip, spray, and dip with root promoter as needed before planting. How to judge the survival of a tree stump: After the tree stump is planted, water it once and place it in the sun. Spray water on the trunk 4 to 5 times a day. Do not spray water before germination. After germination, the soil may be soaked with water. It is better to dry the soil. Generally, it takes 30 days to germinate, and about 90 days to re-germinate. Reduce the number of water sprays after the stump sprouts for the second time. If the new sprouts do not shrink under the hot sun, the leaves will be thick and shiny. It means that the tree stump has grown new roots and the stump cultivation is successful. After the stump survives, gradually transition to conventional management, and apply fresh fertilizer and water once every half month. Let the new sprouts grow wildly. After the beginning of autumn, the planting is carried out and unnecessary non-shaped tree buds are cut off to allow nutrients to concentrate on the shaped branches. Accelerate growth. For some tree stumps that will not die after half a year, as long as the roots of the stump are not rotten, remove the stump, rinse it with tap water and plant it with new soil, which can promote the development of new roots. Good for survival. As long as you respect the laws of nature and master the relationship between sunlight, humidity, and temperature differences, you can effectively increase the success rate of pile cultivation.
6. Five steps of planting piles down the mountain
There are three steps to cut the piles, and one step to cut down the mountain
The key is to leave about 15 centimeters of general branches. Properly extend the branches
The second step is to go home and cut carefully, leaving what is needed and drying out what is not needed. Pay attention to retaining useful companion buds and be sure to leave an extra bud.
The third step is to use quick disinfection on all upper and lower cuts (branches and roots)
The second step is to "disinfect"
The method of disinfection is to Differentiate tree species. Here I will use miscellaneous trees as an example to describe two simple methods. .
In the relative disinfection process, there are two types of miscellaneous trees. One type can be soaked in water, such as triangle maple, which can be soaked in potassium permanganate solution for more than half an hour. . . . For those that cannot be soaked in water, you can apply erythromycin ointment or the like on the wound and let it dry. Elm trees cannot be soaked in water
In this step, some hormonal drugs can be used appropriately, such as rooting agents, vitamin B12, etc. . .
Elms, golden birds, etc. that cannot be soaked, plum blossoms, etc. can be soaked
Now you can enter the third step of "sealing". Sealing is important. Many people ignore it. This is the biggest reason for deadlock.
One of the purposes of sealing is to prevent the wound from being too large and causing the limited water in the plant to evaporate.
The second is to isolate the inside and outside to prevent plants from being infected by pathogens and viruses. Many plants are not alive, they have been piled down. The nutrients stored in their bodies are extremely limited and are used to fight diseases, so they have no energy left to take root and sprout.
I usually use two sealing media, one is wax seal and the other is black glass glue seal.
The wax seal includes paraffin wax and connecting wax. I have also talked about two wax-retaining formulas in the group before. If you have time, you can prepare some for yourself. Paraffin wax is just regular candle or furniture wax. Paraffin wax is applied and then baked into the wood surface.
Use black glass glue (remember it must be, I won’t talk about the reason)
After all the previous work is done, you can plant. The most critical point in planting new piles It is soil
Soil with certain elements, that is, soil with low organic matter content and low impurity content. It needs to have good drainage, air permeability, water retention and granularity
It has a loose structure and is easy to replace later. The soil will not damage the roots. After planting, the remaining problem is to moisturize the tree before it reaches a new growth balance.
There are many ways to moisturize, such as bagging, laying felts, hanging bottles, etc. One thing to remember is that this moisturizing is to moisturize the tree body, and not all tree stumps can be satisfied simply by watering.
The root system is not formed and watering cannot be absorbed, so it is useless. On the contrary, excessive watering will cause the new roots to rot.
That’s why I have emphasized “dry roots” many times. "Wet leaves". This word actually has two meanings.
One meaning means that the nature of plants is basically to grow roots when dry and grow leaves when wet.
The other meaning is It is said that during the maintenance period, the roots should be kept dry and the branches and leaves should be sprayed with water. Explain that sentence. I have explained the principles and botanical basis of each step in detail.
The golden marble tree I just planted has long teeth. About 7 centimeters, I removed the bag and the buds shriveled up. What happened when I put it back on? "Remove the bag gradually"
I think the pot soil is also moisturizing. Does it need a certain humidity? Being dry doesn’t mean just drying the potting soil, but letting it stay relatively dry most of the time. I think Golden Marble is a tree species that likes moisture and must be placed in a cool place
The cut must be sealed, because it has more chances of infection
Pay attention to the difference between high burial and deep burial. Roots will grow on top. Deep burial will lead to two layers of roots and lead to The lower part of the second layer of roots is rotten, and this characteristic of Chinan is the most obvious
Bury it high, add a fence and bury it high
7. This is how to match the soil
Get some sawdust and straw , add other garden soil, mountain soil, pond mud, etc., plus cakes, fish bones, shrimp heads, chicken manure, etc., add coal ash, spread it layer by layer, and sprinkle some bacterial fertilizer (agricultural station or flower market). (available for sale), then sprinkle some chemical fertilizer and water, and then cover it with plastic film and expose it to the sun. In autumn, there will be no insects and grass. Plastic film is good for everything, including the fertilizer effect of the soil and the pellet structure. Cover it and expose it to the sun (It is very important to prepare the soil from July to August. After covering it with plastic film, the humidity and temperature inside the film will be high, and the basic temperature is about 80 degrees. This will speed up the fermentation process and kill grass seeds and insect eggs.
The soil in autumn is clean and pure, and it doesn’t smell bad even if it is covered with agricultural film.
If you find it troublesome to mix soil, just buy peat and mix it with coal ash, and don’t use anything else. Peat soil is available at flower markets. Coal ash is burned cinders. Peat soil mixed with coal ash is generally used in cities. I am used to the ratio of 7:3.
In fact, using soil is very simple. One is loose and breathable, the other is organic matter and fertilizer, and the other is in line with the acidity and alkalinity of potted plants. If the soil needs to be looser, you can add some perlite to the soil when changing pots in autumn. Perlite is light and breathable. It has good water retention and drainage properties (the particles are larger).
This is the traditional method of adding soil to gardens.
8. The teacher talks about the steps of design
The so-called intention comes first, which is the necessity of design. What are the basis for the design? It can be summarized into three points.
The first thing is an observable object, which is the object of design, the main body of the pile itself. The pile head is the main body of our tree bonsai modeling. How to grasp the pile head is the first step in bonsai modeling. Grasp, please understand this word. The thin waist of a beautiful woman can be grasped, which is an empirical experience formed through actual verification. The grasp of the pile head is also an intuitive feeling generated through the accumulation of experience, and the design can reflect this feeling more intuitively. The advantages of a stake, as I have said many times, are that there is no such thing as a stake. That is to say, all pile heads have their bright spots. How to grasp this highlight and embody this highlight. For most of us beginners, making design drawings is the best way.
Privately, I don’t do design drawings myself, so don’t imitate me.
The highlights of the pile head are different depending on the viewer's knowledge, aesthetics and other reasons. For example, for me, the most important thing is the "momentum" of the pile head. I have talked about this "potential" before. I think the biggest difference between all pile heads and other pile heads is the way in which "potential" is reflected and even the difference in "potential" itself. So, potential is very imaginary.
How to create an intuitive impression must be demonstrated through design.
What is design? Painting trees?
I think there are five design steps
The first step is to review the pile. In short, it is to find the best view of the pile head and appreciate the potential of the pile head itself
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This momentum is majestic, stalwart, broad, noble, majestic, charming, eccentric, noble, etc. . . . . .
In the first step of pile review, we should have a clear understanding. The established momentum of the pile head establishes the direction for the maintenance and pruning of the pile head
The second step is to set the momentum. That is to establish the form
The forms of bonsai vary from school to school, but generally they are somewhat common. Such as "cliff, waterfront, upright, oblique, lying on the stem, curved stem, etc." Although our predecessors have established these bonsai styles for us, we must not be limited by them.
Ten Do's and Ten Don'ts , is a degree that needs to be grasped when building momentum for Bonshu. It involves some thoughts of the three traditional Chinese schools. I will not talk about it here for the time being.
Why should we continue to return to this topic?
Because the appearance of trees is ever-changing. Those of us who play bonsai should know that the ancient and famous trees in nature are all very distinctive trees, but they are not the same as other bonsais. In microscopic gardens, potted trees are the epitome of big trees. When it comes to "conforming to nature", it involves the third step of design. Everyone is not familiar with this term. Let me explain. It is embodied according to the requirements of "I".
This "I" is the key to distinguishing Chinese traditional art from other arts. "The source of the heart"
The external teacher's creation is to learn from nature and imitate the natural process. This is also said to be "searching for all the strange peaks to make a draft", so that there is nothing in front of you but a confident mind. Then you can "read and break" Thousands of volumes, the writing is like a god. "What I write is no longer any bamboo I have seen before, but it is any bamboo. This is a refining process, a re-creation process. This process is called "Zhongde Xinyuan"
Chinese traditional art is about creation, not any concrete object. It is something that comes from the heart. This is a process of "self-transformation". It is necessary to make Chinese bonsai. This is fundamentally different from Japanese bonsai.
Many people say that Lingnan bonsai is natural, but in fact it is not natural, but a refined reproduction of nature. It is completely different from replicating the natural practice of potted plants in Taiwan today.
I said that the pile material itself has no advantages or disadvantages. The only difference lies in the length of time required for styling and the level of cutting and setting.
Even small seedlings take time to grow.
Continue back to the design steps.
The three steps mentioned above are: review, set the situation, and personalize. Then let’s talk about the fourth step of design, laying out branches.
I once said, "The branch method of a potted tree is a matter of life and death, which cannot be ignored. This is just my personal opinion. I think that modern people are lazy, China is rich in resources, and cultivation is willing There are few fools, so you must dig or buy the stakes.
After playing with stakes for a long time, you will know the character of others.
As for the relationship between branches and so on, I have talked about it a lot before. But don’t take what I said and the pictures I drew as truth.
You must learn to analyze the truth beyond the picture and draw the truth beyond the picture. Most of them are done casually, without thinking, just to explain the ideas.
As can be seen in some pictures, sometimes it is just a stroke, a main branch direction. So much has been said and how much everyone has understood. It is impossible to actually see the production.
Because the layout on the design is very complicated. Let me tell you frankly how much you understand about the pile head.
This step of laying out branches involves moving out many of the branching methods discussed before.
The main thing is the relationship between the top and the top, the relationship between the top and the big branches, and the positioning of other auxiliary branches between the two. These three relationships are simple, and the difference between enthusiasts and masters is the difference between these three. The level of understanding is different.
What is the last step of the design?
Please allow me to use a Go term "final". People who do not play Go generally cannot understand this word.
But the ending often involves the direct outcome of a game of chess. For example, the Korean devil Lee Chang-ho is known as an unparalleled official in the world, so the ending of bonsai design involves many aspects. , eight words: "Boldly branch out, be careful to tidy up." "The end of the design is related to the specific length of the auxiliary branches in the picture, whether to increase the number of branches, the form and size of the pots, the method of planting soil and stones, etc.
I talked about it yesterday" "One thing can be done hundreds of times", but even if it means one thing can be done hundreds of times, it is also one picture. The use of branches in each picture must not be confused.
This is the fundamental meaning of design. The time is almost the same today, so for the time being only I talked about the five steps of my personal design. I will talk about the rest tomorrow.
9. A perfunctory talk based on the pile review
Let’s take a pile head. Don't be anxious when you get it. The first thing is to review and appreciate the pile. I call it "reading the pile" as if you were reading a book. Once you understand the content of the pile, you will almost have a rough draft. . The main reason for reading the content of Zhuangtou is of course to teach students according to their aptitude. What is bonsai technology? It is a technique of hiding and revealing. , is a technique of "promoting good and concealing evil".
What is the explanation? People are born with good, ugly, good and evil shapes, and they are all different. Everyone has their own way of looking at it, and their results are different. However, there are many universal and identical laws of beauty. This is the result of the gradual communication and communication of human aesthetic habits over thousands of years.
The purpose of our pile reading is to discover the beauty of the pile material and grasp the beauty of the pile material.
After grasping the most beautiful side of the pile material, we must adopt the method of "hiding evil and promoting good". This is the starting point of bonsai making. What is the best viewing angle of a bonsai? It is equivalent to the "camera" in 3D mapping and photography. Viewing angle.
Of course, bonsai is a kind of "cosmic" art. This universe is not that universe. The universe here refers to the so-called four-dimensional eight poles, which has been called the universe throughout the ages. It has its own spatiality. In other words, bonsai cannot only be viewed from one side. It is not discussed in this article and will not be discussed in detail for the time being.
Someone once said: "Is bonsai planting trees in pots? No, it is planting thoughts in time!"
It involves the spatial issue of bonsai. I want to mention a phenomenon, that is, when doing bonsai and even bonsai design nowadays, many of them have branches on the left and right but no branches on the front and back. In our bonsai industry, leaves are compared to clothes. For example, picking leaves and admiring branches in Lingnan bonsai is called "taking off clothes and changing scenery." When the leaves are thick and the branches are thick, the trunk is completely exposed. I call this the "disadvantage of exposing the chest and belly." Those who are short and domineering don't think so, because it is "Lu Zhishen" and this style. It's just pity that those delicate and handsome humans can only show their rugged ribs. I dare not think of Zhou Lang who is like Zhang Fei, or Diao Chan who is like Lotus JJ. It should be noted that "covering up is the greatest temptation". Beautiful women often seduce people's desires by hiding a little and revealing a little. Only by wearing some clothes can they think of taking off their clothes. Do you think so? Proper covering is the best display. Seeing too much naked body makes your eyes tired. There is a term for this in garden setting called "obstacle view".
So, we can draw a conclusion that "proper hiding is the fully revealed revelation."
So, how to hide it? How to reveal it? The method of "hiding evil and promoting good" proposed above is simply to expose the good things and hide the bad things.
The principle of bonsai tree stumps sprouting branches from the convex surface is an excellent embodiment. What is the characteristic beauty of bonsai pile materials? In "Linear". (The artistic issue of lines will be discussed in detail later in an article based on calligraphy.) Only the convex surface of the branches can reflect the linearity of the pile material, and it is in line with the iron rules of natural growth of trees. The bigger the branches are, the more nutrients they accumulate and the more obvious they are. Even if the concave surface sprouts branches, it will gradually grow into a convex surface unless it is overcast. The branches on the convex surface strengthen the opposite concave surface, which is the "bend". Bonsai pays attention to "no straight branches, three curves every inch." This is not just a saying, there is considerable truth in it. I'm just going to talk about it briefly here. It is enough for us to know that "curves are beautiful and must be exposed."
The "bend" here does not entirely refer to the kind of visual bend that we can see in the three-dimensional space, but some are emotional bends. Just like a beautiful woman, (why is it a beautiful woman? Then you are really sexy~!) In fact, I will admit that I think beautiful women are like flowers. I like beautiful people, and I also like beautiful women. But I will never like those female tyrannosaurs. Most of everyone will agree with me (except for some small fans). The soft beauty and intellectual beauty of women are this kind of "emotional bend". Just like those strange and beautiful features in the tree stump, it is also a kind of "qu". It is also the “goodness” that needs to be shown. I can't imagine that a thin literati tree stump with a "big pot lid" would be considered beautiful.
What needs to be hidden? Is it ugly? This requires considerable accumulation to judge, because tree appearance is relative.
A straight piece on a relatively curved pole that does not conform to the rhythm is ugly; a piece of music on a relatively straight pole that does not conform to the rhythm is also ugly; compared with healthy bark, stutters and grooves are bad decorations; Compared with the rugged old stems, the smooth and fine surface is the enemy. . . . We must cover up this "ugliness" and hide this "evil". We can use methods such as returning branches, facing branches, and point branches to cover, hide, and break. .
I mentioned a concept "rhythm" in the previous paragraph, which is very important. We often say that "bonsai is solidified music". What does music represent? Music expresses the rhythm of everything in the world. Therefore, when Ziqi met Boya that year, he would say, "It's as tall as a mountain, and the water is like flowing water." The rhythm of bonsai is a gradual and repeated rhythm, which is reflected through the changes of roots, stems, leaves and branches and the color of leaves, flowers and fruits in the four seasons. This is not very specific and belongs to the category that can only be understood but not expressed. But it’s right that when we think of rhythm we think of music. What emotion does your potted tree want to embody, what artistic conception it displays, what thoughts it expresses? Think about music with similar expressions, this is a reference, it is a mirror!
Off topic. Let’s go back to the spatiality of bonsai. This is the key point. Looking at the noodles is the best spatial choice.
In other words, hiding and revealing are showing and concealing. The above briefly talks about some points that need to be generally paid attention to in explicit and implicit. Let’s take a dialectical look at the relationship between explicit and implicit. Does blocking the view with the front branches mean it is hidden? I said: No~! Sometimes using the front branch is a form of emphasis. (Continuing to use the metaphor of beautiful women,) In clothing design, low-cut clothing designs often add some decorations on the chest, maybe a flower, maybe a little line, maybe a gem, maybe something else. .
When such clothes are worn on a woman with an extremely devilish figure, where will our gaze go? There is no doubt that I believe that most of you are normal male prostitutes (shemales are not included in this example). In fact, the same goes for women. Although women look at it with a critical eye, they undoubtedly look more carefully, and then they will think bitterly: Isn’t it just a little bigger there~! What’s there to show off~!
Having said this, we can understand the wonderful use of "emphasis" in bonsai composition. In addition to this kind of "covering up", there is another method of emphasis called "repetition". In modern songs, a few lines are sung over and over again in different tunes. This is "repetition", which originated from the "Book of Songs", the first of the Six Classics. In bonsai techniques, "double floating" is a typical repetition.
Someone is going to scold me. That’s right, we patiently read your article because the title has something to do with bonsai. Why are you just going around and talking about nothing? There are few words about bonsai (and more about beauties). Can you do it?
Okay~! Of course, can a man say no?