The trees that are shaped and pruned elaborately, foliage and branches are kept in a certain number, each part of the tree has a given value and contains a philosophy of life: these are bonsai.

Mother and child position

The word ‘bonsai’ has been used in recent decades instead of the older terms, antique tree, ornamental tree or positioned tree.

Bonsai is mainly based on the numbers three and five, the Ying Yang principle and five basic elements that prefer odd numbers. Even numbers are only used on the trees that perform literary allusions.

A set of bonsai is usually a five tree set, ‘Ngu phuc’ (Five lucks), which are arranged like the Chinese character ‘five’.

A three tree set is called ‘Tam tai’ (Three essential elements of the universe), arranged in a line in which the highest tree, ‘main tree’, will be placed in the middle and have its branches bent into the Ying – Yang symbol. Its trunk will be bent into the ‘That hien’ (Seven sages) or ‘Ngu phuc’ position. The trunks of two remaining trees are curved into the ‘xuy phong’ (Blowing wind) form. The trees will have ‘Mau tu’ (Mother and child) or ‘Phu tu’ (Father and child) positions.

Bonsai, today, are enjoyed in symmetrical pairs in some cases.

The trees will have various positions depending on the concepts about beauty of each nation or region.

By enjoying the trees, viewers can also realize the philosophy of life as well as the origin of morality between human beings and society so they are able to improve their character. Bonsai is not only an art but also a moral philosophy that brings people to the true, the good and the beautiful.

VietNamNet/SGGP