Last week, Teacher Wong demonstrated how to bend thick branches of a Eugenia uniflora (aka Brazilian Cherry, 紅果 in Chinese) bonsai tree by notching.  “So, what is notching?” you probably will ask.  Notching is a technique of bending a branch by cutting a “V” shape across the width of the branch and bend it into position  Notching is especially useful for bending thick branches.

We must make the cuttings of the “V” shape as smooth and as straight as possible so to avoid any gap in between the cuttings when we pull together the cuttings and bend the branch with a guy wire tourniquet.

Wound Care: Wound Sealant or Waterproof Adhesive Tape?

While many bonsai enthusiasts prefer the use of wound sealant to protect cutting wounds on their bonsai trees, Teacher Wong advises us to use waterproof adhesive tape to tightly and completely wrap around the cutting wound for protection. And same as how we use adhesive aluminum foil, we should never use any wound sealant when we are using waterproof adhesive tape (for more about adhesive aluminum foil, visit Sealing Cuts of Bonsai Trees.)

Besides bending two major branches by notching, we also cut away some unsightly roots of the bonsai tree.

LEFT: Before RIGHT: After

Best Time for Notching

Since notching leaves a big wound on the bonsai tree, the most suitable time periods to carry out such operation for our trees are either in spring (when the weather is still cool  while the tree has started its growing season), or in early autumn (when the summer heat has gone, and our tree still have much time to heal its wound before it goes dormant).

Recommendation

While I was trying to find out the proper term of this “V-shaped cutting and bending” technique, I came across a very useful article that describe different ways to bend thick or brittle branches with lots of photo illustrations by Harry Harrington in his very informational website.

Portion of scroll showing Shōki; Late Heian Period; a treasure of the Nara National Museum

Only until recently have I learned from a Japanese bonsai friend that Zhong Kui (鍾馗 in Chinese) is not only a well-known mythology character in Chinese culture, but also in the Japanese culture. Well, I shouldn’t be too surprised since there is so much in common between the two cultures.

In Japanese, Zhong Kui is called Shoki.

The Story of Zhong Kui

It is said that Zhong Kui is the deity who is the king of 80,000 ghosts and demons. According to folklore, Zhong Kui (712-756 AD) was a physician in the Tang era, a man with a very ugly appearance. To advance his career, he took the national examination at the capital and performed brilliantly, scoring the highest among all applicants. But due to his ugly appearance, Zhong Kui was rejected by the emperor. In shame and anger, Zhong Kui committed suicide in front of the emperor. Regretted his wrong committed, the emperor ordered that Zhong Kui be buried with the highest honor. After death, Zhong Kui became the king of ghosts in Hell, and in gratitude, Zhong Kui vowed to be a vanquisher of evil spirits.

The bat is often seen together with Zhong Kui as a symbol of good fortune and happiness.

Look closer, you will find a red bat on the tip of Zhong Kui’s folding fan.

Protector against Evil Spirits & Illness

In China, like many other Feng Shui items, Zhong Kui’s paintings and statues are often placed at the household entrance as a guardian spirit, as well as in places of business with high-valued goods. In Japan, during Edo-period (1615-1868), Shoki was very popular. People hung images of Shoki outside their houses to ward off evil spirits during the Boys’ Day festival (May 5 of each year). Nowadays, Shoki is relatively neglected, except in Kyoto, where residents still decorate their houses with Shoki’s statues to ward off evil and illness, and to protect the male members of the family.

Zhong Kui has also become one of Peking Opera’s most popular and beloved characters.

Leaves, Flowers & Fruits

Buddhist Pine has narrow, elliptical leaves that are stiff in texture and spirally crowded together. The tree’s cone-shaped flowers are unisexual. While male cones are yellowish brown, female are greenish.

The oval-shaped fruit which seated on thick fleshy receptacle turns reddish/purplish when ripened, which looks like a little Buddha meditating with a reddish/purplish rope on.

Sun

While Buddhist Pine loves full sun, it can tolerate partial shade, which makes this conifer a nice indoor bonsai tree.

by Mr. Wu Cheng-Fa

Illegal Digging

Recent years, there have been many cases of Buddhist Pines being illegally harvested. As China’s economy thrives, the demand of Buddhist Pine, which is viewed as a lucky charm, rises. A single Buddhist Pine can fetch up to HKD $100,000 (around USD $13,000). The high profits from illegal tree-harvesting have attracted many illegal mainlanders to come to Hong Kong, dig out and smuggle the trees back to China.

My bonsai rack and land (photos taken in early May 2011)

Among those on the rack, there were several big trees that I thought might have developed enough and could be potted for the final stage of development (development of fine branches).  However, a year has passed and these trees haven’t grown much.  I guess I probably have potted them a bit too early.  So I decided to take these bonsai trees out from the pot and train them on the ground again.  Hopefully, these trees will have their branches developed and can be potted in 2 years.

We can tell that the trees haven’t developed much in the past year with these photos (photo at the bottom is taken in early May 2011). Besides having a bit more foliage (mostly unwanted), the trees have not developed any suitable branches.

The tree surrounded with bricks in the middle is a bonus.  It has been here before I moved my trees in.

If you want to see more photos of southern style bonsai, visit Daliang Bonsai Show album in Happy Bonsai Gallery.

大良盆景協會 (literal translation: Daliang Penjing Association) invited over 500 bonsai enthusiasts all over China to attend its lingnan penjing show.
LEFT: The committee members of Institute of Lingnan Penjing Hong Kong
RIGHT: 5 renowned penjing artists has formed a group and called themselves 嶺南盆景痴友 (literal translation: Lingnan Penjing Maniac)

Entrance of the bonsai show venue

In the lingnan penjing show, one could find many penjing work by Mr. Han Xue Nian (韓學年先生) – the Chairman of Daliang Penjing Association. While Mr. Han’s specialty is pines (indeed, he is nicknamed as 松王 – the Pine King), he grows bonsai trees of different species and styles. Here is one of his creative work.

I especially admire this bonsai.  Note how the trunk of the tree has fully grown into the rock.  I wonder how many years has the bonsai artist – Mr. Zeng An Chang (曾安昌先生) – taken to get the tree to grow so seamlessly into the rock.

There’s an elephant under the tree

Unlike Japanese bonsai, one can often find figurines in Chinese penjing.
If you are interested in learn more about the different bonsai styles, you should definitely check out these posts in Bonsai Style category.

For more photos of southern style bonsai, visit Daliang Bonsai Show album in Happy Bonsai Gallery.

What is Lingnan penjing? What are there in Lingnan penjing that are so different from other penjing schools?  What is  the “Grow and Clip” method?  These are the topics Teacher Wong talked about in my first Lingnan penjing class two years ago, and now I would like to share with you part of the content in my Lingnan penjing 101 class (you can also find this in the official website of Institute of Lingnan Penjing, Hong Kong which I am busy working on now).

Spring from the Mother Nature, Exceed the Mother Nature

Chinese Lingnan penjing embraces the Mother Nature. While it imitates the fascinating scenery in the nature, it is not bounded by any rule or formula. Because of its ability to associate its audiences with the beauty and majesty of the Mother Nature in a merely small pot, Lingnan penjing is praised as an art that “Spring from the Mother Nature, Exceed the Mother Nature” (源於自然，超於自然).

Convey Messages and Thoughts through Comprised Style and Ambiance

Lingnan penjing is not only about the outer beauty. Every penjing has its own unique ambiance and mood. When viewing a Lingnan penjing, one should savor the messages and emotions that the Lingnan penjing artist is trying to express.

Prune Trees with “Grow and Clip” Method

Lingnan penjing artists prune trees with the “Grow and Clip” method. Instead of bending by wires, the branches are kept being clipped as they grow. Every clipping creates a new turn and a new session on the branch, and in every session, there grows new branches. Eventually, as the tree keeps growing and being pruned by this particular method, it will taper from the base to the apex, the proportions between the trunk and branches will be greatly developed, with branches full of turns and twists.

If you are interested in knowing more about the other schools of penjing, I would recommend you to check out this page in Phoenix Bonsai Society’s website which talks many different penjing schools in details.

An excellent Lingnan penjing should have the following characteristics:

Style

• The base of the tree truck should look strong, yet rugged and aged.
• The branches should be naturally in proportion, with focus point clearly defined.
• The size of the tree crown should get smaller as it goes to the top in a natural way.
• Amount of roots showing should be just right. If too much roots is shown, it may affect the health of the tree. If not enough roots is shown, the tree may not look as strong and aged as we want it to be.

Pruning Techniques

• Don’t leave (or at least minimize) any trace of cutting and pruning
• Be aware of the density of the branches. While an unreasonably naked tree with very few branches is bad, a tree with overly stuffed foliage that block the view of the structure of the truck and branches is equally undesirable.

Growing Condition

• The tree should be growing healthily with no pest and disease problem.
• Unless the tree naturally has yellow or variegated leaves, the tree should have shiny, green foliage.
• Flowering species should be able to fully blossom.
• Fruit-bearing species should be able to bear many fruits.

Ambiance

• An excellent penjing can touch its audiences with resonance, as if bringing its audiences to the scenery that is presented in the pot.

Pot / Container

• Size of pot – A pot too small makes the penjing look too crammed, while a pot too large makes the penjing look too empty. (A pot too large also lessens the relative size and strength of the tree(s) in the penjing.)
• The color of pot should harmonize with the penjing.
• The shape of the pot should complement with the size and style of the penjing.

Display Stand

• The size, height, and shape of the display stand should match well with the size and style of the penjing.

Accessories & Background

• The figurines, rocks, and accessories in the penjing should be in proportion with the tree(s), as well as with one another. The whole picture in the penjing should look natural.

Titling

• A great title brings life into the penjing, suggesting another perspective of the penjing to its audiences, inviting the audiences to view the penjing in another way, so to understand the thoughts and emotions of the penjing artist that may be hidden inside the art.
• The title must be relevant, natural, and elegant.

Zhuge Liang figurine in Happy Bonsai Shop

From time to time, I receive emails from customers asking me for more details about the few figurines of significant Chinese historical characters that are now selling in Happy Bonsai Shop. Some of these figurines are the most popular characters in Chinese history. And today, I would like to introduce one of my favorite Chinese historical character – Zhuge Liang (諸葛亮).

If you play video games, I bet you know him already. Zhuge Liang’s reputation for being an unparalleled genius is fully emphasized in his role in video games (usually his intelligence power is highest among all characters). Or if you have been in China before, you may have come across statues of a man wearing a robe and holding a hand fan made of crane feathers. Yes, that’s Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang in a video game

Statue of Zhuge Liang

Zhuge Liang, also known as Kong Ming (孔明), was a chancellor (Chinese: 丞相) of Shu Han Kingdom during China’s turbulent era of Three Kingdoms (220 -280).  He is often recognized as the greatest and most accomplished strategist in Chinese history. Zhuge Liang was also known as a contemporary of Guan Yu, the patron saint of martial arts.

Through researching and self-taught, Zhuge Liang was not only a master in astronomy and geography, but also an expert in military strategy and tactics. In his early year, Zhuge Liang lived in a thatched cottage, working as a farmer while studying (Zhuge Liang’s living in relative aloofness and others’ underestimation of his intelligence are probably how Zhuge Liang earned his nickname – “Crouching Dragon” (臥龍)).

Zhuge Liang in the movie - The Battle of Red Cliff

A painting of Zhuge Liang

Legend states that Liu Bei (劉備), then a descendent of the royal Han house, heard of Zhuge Liang’s great wisdom and went three times to Zhuge Liang’s little cottage, inviting Zhuge Liang to be his military advisor. Zhuge Liang was touched by Liu Bei’s sincerity. Zhuge Liang then shared his plan of reunifying the whole nation. Liu Bei was enlightened and pleased, adopted Zhuge Liang’s plan – setting up his kingdom in the west and allying with the state of Wu in the East. From then on, Zhuge Liang (by then 26 years old) helped Liu Bei to reunify the nation and establish the Han Dynasty.

Zhuge Liang assisted Liu Bei through many difficult situations, and his wisdom and achievement were popularized by the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三國演義) written in the Ming Dynasty.

Check out this article in South China Morning Post which introduces penjing (bonsai in Chinese) and the resources available in Hong Kong for those who want to learn penjing in this bustling rambunctious, cramped city.

The article also introduces Teacher Wong Chau-Shing and Institute of Lingnan Penjing.

I have two rooted Elaeagnus conferta (胡颓子in Chinese) on my bonsai table. I have never given them much thought, but only until recently, my interest in this tree aroused when I saw a beautiful twin trunk Elaeagnus conferta in the bonsai collection of Mr. Wu Cheng-Fa, Chairman of Hong Kong Penjing and Artstone Society.

My two rooted Elaeagnus conferta

Common name: Thory Elaeagnus, Wild Olive
Native: China – Guangxi, Yunnan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia

There usually is a layer of silvery brownish scales covering the leaves of Elaeagnus, giving the tree a silver to grey-brown look from a distance (that’s probably where the nickname “Silverberry” comes from).
The flowers are small, yet fragrant. Fruit is a fleshy drupe with a single seed that is edible. Chinese use the fruits and the leaves of Elaeagnus for food and medicine.