盆栽は日本の伝統文化であり、誇るべき芸術です。絵のように筆を置いて完成する静的芸術とは異なり樹が生き続ける限り完成がありません。中には樹齢1000年を超えるものまであり盆栽は生きた芸術として、いくつもの時代の人々の手に触れ愛情を注がれてきたのです。
豊かな自然と四季の中で生活する日本人がその風景を自分の空間として楽しむようになったのは、日本人の慈しむ心があったからでしょう。ただ単に鉢に植えて培養し鑑賞するだけでなく自然の景色や己の心像を表し、作り手の心や自然そのものを色濃く映し出すものです。
盆栽とは不思議なものです。春になると何かを祝福するように可愛いらしい淡いピンク色の桜の花が咲き、夏には風に揺られ涼を呼ぶ柳の葉。天高き空の青に、ほんわり秋色の柿の実。冬には寒さをしのぎ清楚であり鮮やかな花と香り豊かな梅。必ず季節ごとに知らせてくれる、披露してくれるという無償の愛のプレゼント。
葉の形や花の色すべてのものに、植物がいきるうえでの深い意味と知恵が込められているんです。盆栽と共に生活することで四季をより身近に感じる事ができ、人生を豊かにしてくれます。
盆栽を見て「この樹は何を表現しているんだろう？」とちょっと考えてみてください。正解はありません。個々が感じた感情が答えです。
What is BONSAI
Bonsai is Japanese traditional culture and a form of art of which we should be proud. Unlike a painting, which becomes a complete and static work the moment the artist puts down his or her brush, a bonsai tree is never truly complete as long as it is alive. Bonsai is a living art. There are bonsai trees which are over a thousand years old, which have been touched, loved and cared for by countless people over several periods of history.
That the Japanese people, living amidst abundant natural beauty and the four changing seasons, were able to take that scenery into their own personal space to cherish and enjoy is, I think, because of the tender, caring hearts that the Japanese people had.
Not simply putting a tree into a pot to raise and look at, bonsai is an expression of natural scenery and ones own nature. It is a vivid reflection of the artists heart and of nature itself.
Bonsai is mysterious: in spring, the cherry blossoms bloom, as they should; under high, blue autumn skies, earth-colored persimmons fruit; withstanding the cold, the pale, waxy color and faint scent of plum flowersﾑthese are priceless gifts, given with love, shown to us as a sign of the changing of the seasons. Everyone, have you received such a thing? A thing nearby which is filled with gratitude.
Also, there are deep shades of meaning and great stores of knowledge hidden away in the shape of the leaves or the colors of flowers, in everything that makes a plant a living thing.
Just as every single person has his or her own heart, his own individual way of living, so to do bonsai trees have their own individual hearts, their own lives.
Please, look at a bonsai tree and think to yourself, What is this tree trying to express?There is no correct answer. Whatever each individual feels in his or her heart is the answer.