Bonsai Making Demonstration

Friday, May 20, 2011

Bonsai and Penjing

By: Robert Stevens



Many have asked: whether the same Penjing Bonsai?
The answer is "yes" and "no", depending on the context in which we membicakannya.
Until recently, in many countries, including in Indonesia, there is still much mistaken about the definition of "Penjing." Many consider all the nuances of Bonsai landscape or panorama is Penjing, style grouping who wore a thin pot is Penjing, or there are no statues, pagodas or accessories are Penjing. Though not the case.
We can see there are many who equate art with Bonsai Penjing; but at other times, discuss Penjing as an art form with the understanding that the concept is not clear; even consider Bonsai and Penjing can not contest the joint.

It is very rare because there are books, articles or literature written by the Masters art Penjing Penjing Chinese that was translated into foreign languages. For that, I am very grateful to the Chinese language in order to study the book and Penjing art literature and discussions with Penjing master in China who happens very often I visit.
We start from the actual meaning of "Bonsai" and "Penjing." "Bonsai" is a Japanese language which means "potted plant", while Penjing is Mandarin, which means "natural panoramas in the pot", but does not mean that Penjing should always nuanced nuanced panoramic or panorama must Penjing. Which meant "panorama" by Penjing is a beautiful natural samples, so Penjing can be a panorama that there are no trees or no trees. Therefore, Penjing is very broad sense, there is Shuihan Penjing (Water and Land Penjing), Bigua Penjing (Wall-hanging Penjing), Shansui Penjing (Rock Penjing) and the last, Shujuang Penjing similar to what we say "Bonsai "so far.
The word "Bonsai" itself, in Mandarin spelled "Penzai" which means "a potted plant." All plants are grown in pots called Penjai; but the notion of "Bonsai" that we have adopted so far, the Chinese called "Shujuang Penjing" or Penjing Plants. But in practice, when told about Shujuang Penjing (or bonsai), the word "Shujuang" is often not mentioned, and only mention Penjing. In this context, Penjing Bonsai is the same with all the force we know in Bonsai, can only be a single tree planted in a pot without a nuanced panorama, there are accessories or not.
So if we look in the view of "micro", Penjing Bonsai is the same because we talk in a narrow context, the topic of "Bonsai" by eliminating the word "Shujuang". Usually this is a matter of ease of pronunciation or practice in translation in the book or article.
But if we speak in the context of "macros", Penjing is different from the Bonsai in terms of some features typical character, but not in terms of style or presence or absence of accessories.
Maybe we can suppose that "Cats are animals, but animals may not be a cat," so Bonsai is Penjing, but not necessarily Penjing Bonsai!

For example: The Singapore Penjing & Stone Appreciation Society, Is one of the organizations that use the word Penjing in which not only embody the art of Bonsai, but also other Penjing art including Shansui Penjing (Rock Penjing) even more dominated by Bonsai.
Similarly, in China itself, many of which began using the term rather than Penjing Penzai or bonsai as a result of global interaction with the outside world.

The basic philosophy is very conspicuous in the art of Penjing is "Yuan yu zi ran, Gao yu zi ran" (Inspired from nature and refers to the nature) so that the nuances of art Penjing not be separated from the impression of a beautiful nature footage and poetic; touch of engineering is not dominant.
Bonsai Art is more dogmatic and religious, while the more symbolic Penjing with naturalism is thick and gives a wider freedom of expression.
Art Penjing not demand physical perfection as a natural phenomenon is basically the most perfect, including non-sempurnaannya; that there is a harmonious beauty!
A work Penjing, whatever shape and style, so the importance of "yujing", ie natural feel poetic; different with more emphasis Bonsai physical perfection.
Penjing more focus on the beauty and harmony of the whole, the presentation is to give the message and the impression of perfection is implied and not dogmatic that without meaning. In Penjing art, in addition to mastering the art of aesthetic concepts, mastery of the law of nature is also very important including the science of plant physiology and morphology. Bonsai rely more on engineering techniques to achieve physical perfection according to the criteria and norms which are often regarded as the standard rules.
Insight, knowledge and background and political culture is very influential on both the art itself. Nature is rational and discipline high on the Japanese people very clearly reflected in Bonsai, contrary to the highly nuanced Penjing sentimental art. This is due to Penjing art is very much inspired by classical Chinese paintings and poetry of the Tang Dynasty which was a lot of artists and poets who feel frustrated by the political circumstances that hinder their careers in government, and then reflected in their art works are melancholic. One of the most classic style is the style of "Wen ren shu" or "Shu Hua Shi" or people who we know as style literati or bunjin. So is a big mistake if anyone thought bunjin style is contemporary style.
Due to limitations of the English language by the artists Penjing in China, then it is very difficult to translate Chinese into other languages, especially in terms of art, so it is less socialization Penjing art to the outside world. As a result, many are misguided and wrong to interpret art as an art form Penjing completely different with Bonsai.
If Shujuang Penjing is the same as the Bonsai, and how to distinguish? Padaq essentially the same, the difference is a few touch characteristics distinctive character. To distinguish it, we need to learn the five main flow Penjing called "Zhong Guo Da Wu Jing Liu Pen Pai". Without studying history, philosophy, concepts, techniques and the fifth character of the flow, we will be very confused to define and distinguish Penjing Bonsai Japanese style.
Then, if we need to distinguish Penjing and Bonsai? In my opinion, it is not too important. The reason is because in an age of globalization, all forms of art have interacted with each other including the art of Bonsai. Even in China itself, the five streams that had once been a very different character, now increasingly blurred. Although it is invisible, we can still distinguish the "Bonsai" (Penjing) made by Chinese artists, but for me, it is just a term and issue-specific characteristics either express or implied, as it was we used to distinguish artificial Bonsai Taiwan or foreigners who can distinguish artificial Bonsai Indonesian artists.
So how do the assessment or menjuri Penjing?
Same thing, it makes no difference to the way menjuri Bonsai. If the work is nuanced panorama with lots of trees, yes we value as if we judge the Bonsai style grouping or forest; If the work is nuanced panorama but there is only one or two trees, yes we value all elements of composition, and if the work is like a Bonsai, albeit very distinctively Penjing, yes we value as if we judge the Bonsai.
The problem, especially the jurors Indonesia is that they are trapped by the judging system that made PPBI, and lack of insight into the judges who rekruitmennya from the beginning has been wrong, so they are not able to read between the lines. The task of the jury "instant" is more as an official scorer like school teachers assess exam paper "multiple-choice", but not able to assess the test answers which are "open question". They are only taught what the right answer is a, b, c or d, but they do not have the ability to judge a creative essay answers.
So if anyone proposes to separate the judging Bonsai with Penjing, it is because lack of unfamiliarity them. Even if separated, if they have not mastered the concept of Penjing, and will assess with what instruments and criteria how to? How can we judge something we do not have a barometer?
This problem not only happen in Indonesia, but in man-where. Therefore, I was inspired to write my third book, entitled "The Five Schools of Chinese Penjing"Which hopefully can be published in this year. This is the first similar books written in foreign languages ​​other than Chinese language, about all the ins and outs of a complete Penjing art. My business is already received the blessing of Penjing organization in China with the support of literature and photographs of works from the artists Penjing in China.

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