The Bonsai Tree: A Living Art Form of Buddhist Monks

KPBS TELEVISION
By Angela Carone

A picture taken from the tomb of Prince Chang Huai during the Tang Dynasty - 700 AD

CALIFORNIA --- Bonsai (pronounced bone-sigh) are miniature, sculpted trees in pots or trays. In Japanese, “bon” means tray and “sai” means plant. The tradition dates back over a thousand years. There are multiple theories as to how the practice of creating miniature trees started. One is that Buddhist monks from China wanted to transport medicinal trees across great distances so they miniaturized them and placed them in trays. If bonsai had a practical purpose, it likely always existed alongside an aesthetic one. Bonsai is often referred to as a living art form. It takes over a decade to grow and sculpt a bonsai properly. [link]