What Is Bonsai?

Bonsai are trees and plants grown in containers in such a way so that they look their most beautiful – even prettier than those growing in the wild. Cultivating bonsai, therefore, is a very artistic hobby as well as a traditional Japanese art. It's also a good illustration of the gentle respect Japanese have for living things and an expression of their sense of what is beautiful. It's much more involved than growing potted flowers, and requires a much bigger commitment – physically and emotionally.

The word "bonsai" was first used in a mid-14th century poem, but earlier bonsai culture can be seen in picture scrolls dating as far back as 1309. It became more widely enjoyed around three centuries later, during the Edo period (1603–1867).