Bonsai Styles

Claude Sciberras

Why Styles?There are several reasons for identifying a bonsai by a

named style:

Naming a style provides a graphic description of the tree.

When one person is talking to another about a bonsai and identifies its style, a mental-visual image of that style is evoked in the mind of the listener.

A style provides a direction of purpose when structuring a bonsai.

It is a shortcut to understanding.

Bonsai Styles

Upright Styles Cascade Styles Multiple Tree/Trunk Styles Bonsai With Special Characteristics

Upright Styles

Formal Upright Informal Upright Slanting

Straight Curved Windswept

Broom

Cascade Styles

Cascade Semi-Cascade

Multiple Tree or Multiple Trunk Styles

Two-Trunk or Twin Tree Multiple Trunk / Clump Forest Raft

Straight Raft Sinouous Raft

Miniature Bonsai Literati Driftwood Weeping Exposed Roots Root on Rock /

Root in Rock

Bonsai With Special Characteristics

Upright Styles - Formal The essential attribute in the formal upright

bonsai is the use of straight lines within the design. It has a straight trunk with clear taper from base to apex. The apex is directly above its base. It is a style of bonsai which presents an image of strength and power.

Upright Styles - Formal

Upright Styles - Informal The informal upright style bonsai is the most

common style in which trees are designed. It imparts gentle rhythmic movement, balance and grace.

The trunk emerges from the soil at an angle, curves one or more times between the base and the apex, and has an apex which is above its base when viewed from the front.

Upright Styles - Informal

Upright Styles - Slanting The slanting style bonsai is one having either

a straight or curved trunk with the apex above and to the left or right of the base of the trunk.

The slanting style bonsai depicts a tree in nature which: May have been pushed by a fallen tree, by a snow or

rock slide, or by other environmental factors. May have grown in a harsh environment of windtorn

shorelines or rugged mountains where the winds generally come from a single direction.

May have grown away from shade, toward the light. Slanting objects are inherently off balance. The

slanting style bonsai achieves asymmetrical balance through branch placement.

Upright Styles - Slanting

Upright Styles - Broom A broom style bonsai: Has a straight, vertical trunk with a foliage

mass like an upturned broom. In both bonsai and in nature, this style is

usually created from deciduous trees. Zelkova and Chinese elm species make good broom style bonsai.

Upright Styles - Broom

Cascade Styles A cascade style bonsai is one in which a major feature

extends below the lower rim of the pot. A semi-cascade style bonsai is one in which the major

cascading feature extends below the top rim of the pot but does not extend below the bottom of the pot.

What determines whether a cascade or semi-cascade is Formal or Informal is the part above the rim of the pot.

It depicts a tree in nature growing on a mountain top with all or a part of it hanging over the edge.

Cascade

Semi Cascade

Multiple Tree / Trunk Styles The difference between multi-trunk and multi-

tree is in the roots… Trees must always be of the same species They may be created in most any primary

style: formal upright, informal upright, windswept, literati however all trees must have a single rhythm or style

It is very important to keep all trunks and trees in harmony and balance paying special attention to the height and girth ratios

Two Trunk

Twin Tree

Multiple Trunk

Forest

Raft

Special Characteristics Miniature, Literati, Driftwood, Weeping,

Exposed Roots, Root on Rock and Root in Rock are not styles but characteristics as you can have a windswept literati or an informal upright with exposed roots

Miniature

Literati

Driftwood

Weeping

Exposed Roots

Root on Rock

Root in Rock

Inspiration from Nature

SUNRISE AT BUSKETT - Charles Sammut

WINTER MORNING - Marthese Cassar

Japanese Nomenclature

Classical Styles Formal Upright – Chokkan Informal Upright – Moyogi Slanting – Shakan Broom – Hokidachi Semi-Cascade – Han-Kengai Cascade – Kengai

Japanese NomenclatureNon-Classical Styles Windswept – Fukinagashi Literati – Bunjingi Exposed Root – Neagari Root on Rock – Sekijoju Root in Rock – Ishitsuki Driftwood – Sharimiki, Sabamiki Spiral Trunk - Bankan

Japanese Nomenclature

Non-Classical Styles Forest – Yose-ue Raft – Netsunagari, Ikadabuki Twin-Trunk - Soju Clump - Kabudachi