Article written by Gary English and published on this website with kind permission of The Gardener magazine.

© Gary English gary@cybersmith.co.za
© The Gardener Magazine SA - Editor: Tanya Visser tanya@thegardener.co.za

Turning Japanese

Greetings once again.

Our art form Bonsai stems from origins so far back in our distant past that it is unclear as to exactly when and where it did originate. Actually, like many art forms, bonsai as we know it, is a fusion of many influences, originally Indian, then Chinese and more recently Japanese. Since the turn of the 20th Century western cultures from the USA and Europe have added their 10 cents worth. Even more recently Africa and notably us, South Africa, have also contributed with the inclusion of African styles like the Flat Top, Baobab and Pierneef. However, our overall perception is that bonsai is Japanese.

Bonsai enthusiasts begin with one or two trees, but as the bug bites, it is not long before a specific area in one’s house or garden begins to look a bit oriental. Japanese scrolls are hung on walls and the legs of coffee tables are cut shorter. Bonsaiists slowly become fascinated by the foreign cultural aspects and how they link to spiritual aspects. Japanese bonsai terms are still widely used by bonsai enthusiasts, not only because they sound cool and mysterious, but also because the Japanese terms embody a much wider range of information than the English counterparts if they exist at all. For example, the Japanese word Nebari refers to the spread of the surface roots at the point where the roots meet the base of the trunk. There is no English equivalent, and it would be very time consuming to refer to the English definition every time. As you would imagine, there are numerous Japanese and Chinese words that are relevant to bonsai but here are just a few.

Bon – Means “pot” in Japanese.
Sai – Plant. Together the two words combine to form the word Bonsai (pronounced bone-sai).
Eda – branch.
Gi sei shi – A branch that is grown to promote growth in a specific area but will be removed at a later point. In English this is called a Sacrifice Branch.
Ichi no eda – The lowest or first side branch of a tree.
Ni no eda – The second branch of a tree. It should be on the opposite side of the tree to the first branch.
San no eda – The third branch of a tree.
Ushiro eda – The back branch of a tree placed specifically to create the feeling of depth and perspective.
Jin – One of the most common deadwood techniques, jin refers to the dry and dead tips of branches that in a natural plant may have been caused by fire, lightning or even just old age.
Kuitsuki eda – A small complimentary branch included to give the tree a natural look.
Kiki eda – The primary point of focus of a tree. It could be the primary branch, the trunk of even the foliage.
Miki – Japanese for the trunk.
Penjing – Chinese for bonsai.
Sabamiki – Another deadwood technique referring to a hollow trunk.
Shari – The third main deadwood technique. Shari refers to the deadwood that is exposed when a strip of bark is removed (normally from the trunk) to imitate where a branch may have broken off.
Shin – The apex of the tree. Also the number 10 in Japanese.
Tokonoma – A specific area in a house that is set up to display bonsai.
Yamadori mono – Trees collected from the wild.
Za – Seat or Base. Refers to the artistic presentation of the base of the tree/trunk and the nebari.

Many styles are still referred to by their Japanese names even though we do have English equivalents.
Bunjin – Literati Style
Chokkan – The Formal Upright Style
Fukinagashi – The Windswept Style
Han Kengai – Semi-cascade
Kengai – Full Cascade
Hoki dachi – Broom Style
Ikada buki – Raft Style
Moyogi – Informal Upright Style. Remember Mr. Moyogi from the karate Kid?
Neagari – Exposed Root Style
Ishi seki – Planted On Rock Style
Sekjoju – Root Over Rock Style
Saikei – Landscape plantings using a variety of additional materials like rocks and miniature grasses.
Suiseki – Rocky landscape planting simulating mountains.
Shakkan – Slanting Style
Sharimiki – Driftwood Style
Sokan – Twin Trunk Style
Tankan – Single Trunk Style
Yose Uye – Forest Planting

The sizes of bonsai are also referred to by their Japanese terms.
Mame (pronounced Ma May) - bonsai less than 7cm in height
Shohin – bonsai up to 20cm in height
Kifu – bonsai between 20 and 40cm in height
Chu – bonsai between 40 and 60cm in height
Dai - bonsai over 60cm in height

While nobody expects you to suddenly be able to speak fluent Japanese, learning a few of the Japanese terms will definitely enrich your bonsai knowledge. It is also really nice to throw in a few of these words at a social gathering. Unless there is a real Japanese person around nobody will know that you don’t have the faintest idea of what you are talking about.

Next month I will delve deeper into the Japanese influences, Wabi and Sabi and bonsai poetry called Haiku.