Aus Bonsai Literati Bunjingi Competition.

[Watto]

Bretts
The poem question is too difficult - schooling wasn't my best subject at school !!!!
I thought I would post a couple of photos of a literati I started in September at a workshop with Georgina Kretschmar. Reading the rules this tree probably won't be in the contest, but I have another I brought out of the "I don't know" area this afternoon and will now be putting it in the comp.
Cheers - Watto
This is a picea abies (I think) that I dug from a garden about six years ago.

[Bretts]

That looks like a great start Watto.
I am not sure why you think you can't join in with this one. I think it would be fine in the aged tree division.

[Bretts]

The more I delve into literati the more interested I become. I don't think of myself as much of a historian but I do find the history of the Literati men fascinating.
From Deborah Koreshoffs book Bonsai It's Art, Science, History and Philosophy

These literati men led a frugal and and ascetic life, spending their time studying, debating with other learned men, practicing calligraphy and painting landscapes. In time they turned their hands to sculpting and shaping the potted trees that grew in the courtyards of the governmental buildings and monestries.

Nothing I have found puts any date to the time this happened does anyone have any idea?

The poem question is too difficult

OK here is a hint it was a very famous Literati man. He has some beautiful poetry.

[Bretts]

Ah I think I see the issue you might have with the rules Watto

Once the tree is acquired all work must be done by the entrants hands

When relating this to the aged bonsai section that states

The trees may have been owned by other than the current owner but ownership at the start of the contest and for the duration of the contest must be the entrants.

It would be quite common that an aged tree has been worked on by someone other than the owner even after acquiring it. So I believe that is fine but as long as all the work is carried out by the contestant for the duration of the contest. Refining and maintaining a tree is all part of the discipline. I think that is a quirk in the rules we missed.

[strawbs]

Hills are empty, no man is seen,
yet the sound of people's voices are heard.
light is cast into the deep forest,
and shines again on green moss.
Wang Wei.

i dont think u could put a actual date to the literati Question.
cheers
strawbs

[Bretts]

Nice one strawbs Only half points if it was a google search on the poem.
I would be happy with a centry of when the literati men started sculpting trees.

Wang Wei developed the "Southern School of Landscape Painting" He died in 759

Wang Wei was also called Mo-chieh (or ch'i, the name Wei-moch'i being a transliteration of the Sanskrit name Vimalakirti, the great lay disciple of Buddha) and Yuch'eng (assistant minister of the right, after his last government position). He was born in P'u-chou (the present Fen-yang county in Shansi Province) into a family which had contributed 13 prime ministers to the T'ang court. Because the traditional family seat was in T'aiyüan, Shansi, Wang Wei is usually called a native of T'aiyüan.

By the age of 15, Wang Wei was a skillful poet and musician. In 717 he won first place in the metropolitan examination in preparation for a government career, and in 719 he was awarded the highest degree in the examination system, the chin-shih. His long official career began immediately thereafter with his appointment as assistant director of the Imperial Directorate of Music; at the time of his death in 759, he directed the administration of 12 departments in the ministries of war, justice, and works. His career was not uneventful, however, and included demotion, exile, and forced service under the usurper An Lu-shan. Two personal losses also left deep imprint: when he was about 30, his wife died childless, and Wang never remarried; 20 years later, the death of his mother left him grief-stricken. Though he continued to hold office thereafter, he tended more and more to withdraw from public society to the solace of his country home at Lan-t'ien along the Wang River. There, in the company of fellow poets, Buddhist monks, and other friends, he roamed the hills and waters, studied Taoism and the Buddhist sutras, wrote, and painted.

More here
http://www.answers.com/topic/wang-wei

[Watto]

Bretts
The rules will get some in, and the rules will take some out - and that is life. We shouldn't worry about the rules too much, I certainly won't. As I said before I have a tree to enter into the contest, not so much to win, but hopefully to get a reasonably looking tree, but more importantly to get some advice from knowledgable people on how! And maybe when, where and why?

[Jamie]

watto- thats the idea of the contest, not winning, but the information, discussion and understanding, it gives us a practical aprroch to our discussions which i think is absolutly great, especially the amount of people involved. i am so happy to be a part of it and this community


regards jamie

[Watto]

I'm in too, Jamie.

[Pup]

After that little history lesson I think it is we who should be asking thee OH wise sage .

The magazines are,
International BONSAI 1997 NO. 1 published by Bill Valavanis.

The other is
BONSAI & Stone appreciation Magazine

Published by Bonsai Clubs International.

When it is said that Bunjingi ( Literati ) is a young style that is not correct. Bonsai and Penjing was practiced in its infancy by the Nobility and the men of letter's.
On pain of death for the commoner. Although it was tree's that were dwarfed, you could be too if you were not of Noble birth or the gardener.
There are tree's so I am told that are not the best specimens. They are priceless simply because of there pedigree. Brett I have been going though my library looking at tree's. In the Book Classic Bonsai of Japan there are few tree's refered to as Literati ( bunjingi ) but a lot that could fit that discription. They are in the book refered to as CURVED trunk which a lot of the tree's are. You have got me crambed up reading and it hurts Pup

[Pup]

Bretts
The rules will get some in, and the rules will take some out - and that is life. We shouldn't worry about the rules too much, I certainly won't. As I said before I have a tree to enter into the contest, not so much to win, but hopefully to get a reasonably looking tree, but more importantly to get some advice from knowledgable people on how! And maybe when, where and why?

Watto if you owned the tree when you entered that is fine. Excepting help from another person is also exceptable. As long as you tell us.
Pup

[Watto]

Thanks Pup, but those spruce are slow growing anyway. It probably won't change much in the next twelve months. That's why I've got plan B - a juniper.

[Bretts]

Thanks for that Info Pup I will be sure to see If Bill Valavanis still has that edition.
Don't get too crambed up Mrs Pup will get upset at me
Thanks!


Watto I would love to see that tree in the Aged section I hope you change your mind.

I have a tree that I am thinking of entering that Mr Pup might throw straight out

[stymie]

Hi peeps.
My detachment is complete, being half a world away from most of you and in the northern hemisphere to boot. Your growing season is my winter and so any progression series here would have to start in March. . I have a couple of comparatively mature literati which I might draw on to illustrate any points of interest. This competition is a wonderful idea and an opportunity to share knowledge and viewpoints. I'm tickled pink to be a part of it, although which part is still in the melting pot. All power to your collective elbows and lets have some fun.
Yours in wild anticipation =Stymie (aka Don)

[Bretts]

It will be great to get an international view point Stymie Glad you decided to join us