Cultures Types of bonsai--bonkei

[rockm]

The discussion on cultural influences on bonsai made me think of one of the overlooked related arts in Japan that is kind of unique. Bonkei is a cross between penjing, painting and bonsai. It predates bonsai in Japan. It is a containerized artwork (tray or even a frame) that incorporates artificial, natural and in some cases living elements to create scenes. This is extremely similar to penjing in China.

One Kadansha press book from Japan, published in 1970 is about the only text I've seen on Bonkei, although I occasionally see FB posts with them various sources in Japan. Below are some examples of Bonkei.

 

[Tums]

Do you think it's similar at all to railroad gardening? The scale is different but they seem to share the idea of creating a landscape in miniature.

 

[rockm]

Do you think it's similar at all to railroad gardening? The scale is different but they seem to share the idea of creating a landscape in miniature.

Similar but not the same. It's also centuries older than railroads. The first recorded bonkei date from the 1100's. It's very similar to the Han No Bo landscapes in Vietnam and S.E. Asia.

These are a few of the most famous ones created as models for a ukiyo e artist

53 Stations of the Tōkaidō as Potted Landscapes (1848)

Series of fifty-three prints created by a relatively obscure ukiyo-e artist named Utagawa Yoshishige, each illustration depicting a Tōkaidō station in the form of a potted landscape.

publicdomainreview.org

Another form which uses only sand and pebbles in a frame is Bonseki.

 

[Wood]

How does this differ from saikei? Seems like a more commonplace term for nearly the same thing

 

[Cajunrider]

Similar but not the same. It's also centuries older than railroads. The first recorded bonkei date from the 1100's. It's very similar to the Han No Bo landscapes in Vietnam and S.E. Asia.

These are a few of the most famous ones created as models for a ukiyo e artist

53 Stations of the Tōkaidō as Potted Landscapes (1848)

Series of fifty-three prints created by a relatively obscure ukiyo-e artist named Utagawa Yoshishige, each illustration depicting a Tōkaidō station in the form of a potted landscape.

publicdomainreview.org

Another form which uses only sand and pebbles in a frame is Bonseki.

Agree. Hòn non bộ has been in practice in Viet Nam for centuries. It used to be something only rich people do. However, the introduction of concrete has allowed people to create beautiful mountain scapes at reasonable cost. With the cost of stone carving no longer the stumbling block, hòn non bộ becomes a general population practice.

 

[nuttiest]

Another form which uses only sand and pebbles in a frame is Bonseki.

Thanks for this... I found a piece of black marble and some white sand during spring garden cleaning and will hunt down a feather and try this

 

[Tums]

Agree. Hòn non bộ has been in practice in Viet Nam for centuries. It used to be something only rich people do. However, the introduction of concrete has allowed people to create beautiful mountain scapes at reasonable cost. With the cost of stone carving no longer the stumbling block, hòn non bộ becomes a general population practice.

I do remember seeing a lot of concrete work in the gardens when I visited Thailand last year.

 

[JudyB]

Do you think it's similar at all to railroad gardening? The scale is different but they seem to share the idea of creating a landscape in miniature.

This is what I thought immediately when looking at the photos.