Comments on: Why I hate bonsai

By: Tess

Tess — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:01:19 +0000

Thank you all for your responses – my apologies for being a bad hostess and not responding before now, it’s been one of those weeks!

I’m glad this struck a chord with many of you, and I like the bound feet analogy. Of course I’m being a little disingenuous here, because we tame nature all over the place in all kinds of circumstances. Your response, Barbara, made me think of the espaliered fruit trees that are popular in Europe, and all our pruning and shaping in agriculture.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:44:49 +0000

Claire I thought of bound feet of Chinese women too…

By: claire

claire — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:06:49 +0000

Yes, bonsai indeed reminds me as well of the bound feet of Chinese women. Mind you, I often think that a certain variety of men in Rome are doing the very best they can to bind women’s minds… I have been fighting that for a long time now. Maybe on the urn of my ashes it will be written: she has forever been fighting off the clipping and snipping of her Godde-given wings by men who did not how to fly… ))))

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:51:19 +0000

I am totally with you…I actually find Bonai disturbing and so I could easily use the word hate. At the same time I’ve tried to distance myself as I acknowledge that there might be cultural elements which I am not aware of or understand…and yet I wonder what culture created such an idea?…we think we are like Demiurges rather than connecting with what is truly Divine…true power…

By: Sunrise Sister

Sunrise Sister — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:36:28 +0000

Beautiful post Tess. I understand the concept so well that you’ve outlined about the restriction, pruning, etc. I’ve always loved the Bonsai products but always fearful to own them as though I would bring their death knoll by not following the rules perfectly……….oh this post opens up a lot of avenues for my mind to spin out on and for me that means I loved it! xo

By: Barbara

Barbara — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:10:38 +0000

I am not fond of bonsai either. They take much work to maintain and remind me of the bound feet on Chinese women generations ago. However, I feel I must explain that the Japanese interfere with the natural growth of trees quite a bit. They seek to improve the way a tree grows by pruning and tying, in effect, disciplining its branches into certain shapes to bring out its soul, the god within. At least that is what I remember learning. We in the West enjoy the amazing wildness of nature, but I think it frightens the Japanese a bit.

That said, I really liked what you wrote about being fully awake to the glory. We miss so much of reality because we doze off.

By: lucy

lucy — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:30:34 +0000

my lectio this morning landed me to ponder the same words:
“just imagine the lives we could live if we were to become fully awake to glory.” amen and may it be so! xoxo

By: Kel

Kel — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:47:51 +0000

roots shattering decorative pots
oh I love this post Tess

i’m currently dealing with the fallout of living in a small town, where they like everyone to live small, think small … and if you don’t want to play that game, they do everything in their power to keep you small
it’s a town full of bonsai lovers

i too am learning to hate bonsai !

By: Endlessly Restless

Endlessly Restless — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:16:25 +0000

Tess
I agree with your dislike of bonsai. They are all about the external impression. Trees (and humans) should be magnificent – growing to our full potential, bursting with life, with deep roots seeking the best nutrients and providing us with proper anchors for when the wind blows.