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Art of Bonsai in Japan is renowned in the world. Bonsai is an art that features miniature plants and trees in containers. Cultivating this art is not easy as the real challenge lies in making the plants look as beautiful and appealing as those growing in the wild. The Bonsai artists of Japan have taken the art of Bonsai to an altogether different level. It is an extremely challenging task, as it requires physical and emotional commitment. In Japan the Buddhist monks brought bonsai to the island during the Heian period (794 - 1191A.D.). Initially the art was limited to only the wealthy and the aristocrats and was recognized as the privilege of nobleman. However this trend changed from the seventeenth century and this restricted art gradually became popular amongst the commoners. In the year 1868, Japan after three centuries of isolation opened itself to the rest of the world and subsequently the art of Bonsai became famous in the whole world as objects of art. Even today the Bonsai is a hobby of many people and has become an integral part of the culture and artistic tradition of Japan. All sorts of plants and shrubs are used in Bonsai. The Bonsai artists believe that any plant that can be grown in a small container can be developed as a bonsai. The most commonly used plants for Bonsai are pines, maples, cherry, plum and fruit-bearing trees like the quince and persimmon. A Bonsai tree can be of one meter or small enough to fit into ones palm. In Bonsai the individuality of the tree is more important than the shape of the tree. Just in the way people wear different kind of clothes of different color, size and shape, the containers of the tree are of different shape and size depending on the tree.
The process of Bonsai involves controlling of the shape of the trees. The process is intricate and sometimes the branches of the tree are either clipped with wires or they are even cut off. The true essence of the art lies in appreciating the dignity of each living plant and to treat them with love and respect. The most interesting thing about the art of Bonsai in Japan is that, unlike other work of art there is nothing called "finished". The art of Bonsai evolves and develops as long as the plant is alive. It is one of those rare arts that can be called an "art without end" and is marked by timelessness, one quality that makes the art of Bonsai rewarding and aesthetically fulfilling.
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