AusBonsai Bunjingi Style Discussion

[Pup]

We have a thread here about a Bunjingi ( Literati ) competition. I and Stymie and Leigh have been asked to coordinate and Judge.
Now there was some confusion at the beginning. Which we all hope has now been resolved.
The competition starts December this year and finishes December next year.

To help determine what is Bunjingi I will post some pictures of Bunjingi I have found in a sales catalog. Not being able to read or speak Japanese.
I would none the less like to acknowledge the people who's tree's they are, and the publisher's. I would like to thank them also. So to get this discussion going, here are some images. Bearing in mind one of the criteria described for Bunjingi is the BRANCHES are in the top 2/3rds of the tree. Let us begin .
Please remember it is a discussion ONLY.

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These are just some from the catalog. By professional and Master alike.
Edit to put in the guidelines for the style.

Bunjingi ( Literati ) The trunk should be thin with minimal taper ( not absolute ) with very few branches. The Style usually has a long hanging branch ( Ochieda ) with strong downward movement and steps, or layers of foliage. Bunjingi look better with a slightly slanting trunk line. There are few branches in the lower area of the trunk line, but if one is necessary for balance or styling. Only a small branch is used. Bunjingi should be displayed in shallow pots where the soil can be mounded
They are sometimes shown in deeper pots if the style has an extreme lean. Free form pots are used quite a lot. Pup

[bodhidharma]

Thanks Pup for your efforts!!! No 5 seems like an odd entry as it seems to me that it would also fit under broom or twin trunk but i can also see that the foliage is in the top2/3 of the tree. It also looks like the requirement is, foliage is in the top 2/3 of the trunk, as per no 2, but not in the complete setting. Let me rephrase that, the foliage of the little trunk in no 2 is 2/3 up but not in the complete setting. And that apply s to the group as well. But i can see that they all can fit into the category. Hells bells i am confused. No 7 is the strange one as it has a branch 1/4 of the way up but i can see it still fitting.

[Bretts]

My thinking is once you vere away from the very traditional literati then you think of the guidelines for literati and what they create. And recreate this in the tree you are doing.
"Usually" is a big word in these guidelines, as it is an explanation as to what it is you are trying to create. Once you veer away from the very traditional literati understanding this is how you find the literati style within various forms.

I can understand anyone thinking that this is different to my stance on the rules in Bonsai but it is very much an extension of that. In so much as they say only when you fully understand the design principles of bonsai will you be able to create literati that seems to follow no rules.
Not saying that I understand the design principles of bonsai yet but that is where I want to be

[Gerard]

I am a little uncomfortable with #5 being classed as bunjingi the foliage mass is way too large. I would like to see it in a different category. #1 and #4 both have a lot of foliage but I am more comfortable.
#1 may have started as a different style and been re-designed when lower branches did not work.
#4 Seems to have been bunjingi for a long time but I would like to see it with less foliage as the very interesting trunk is starting to get lost.
#6 is wonderful, my favorite by a mile

Gerard

[anttal63]

6,7,8,3 are true bunjin. i can see the bunjin in the rest of them but they are not bunjin. they are good trees though. imo.

[Pup]

All of the tree's were put in to stimulate discussion. Some fit the criteria as described for Bunjingi. As we have already seen there are members that are uncomfortable with some. I also am uncomfortable with some.
We have the right to like or dislike a tree for many reason's.
This is after all to help us when we start to style your tree for the competion.

Pup

[anttal63]

i thought as much, and yes the shady ones do make me look at them and think about what to do to make them more authentic or not in my mind. so am definately learning from this exercise. thankyou pup for your time.

[Gerard]

Thanks Pup for making us think.
#4 I suggested had too much foliage, I would like to see it thinned.
This is perhaps unfair to the artist. Less foliage would certainly make me more comfortable with the bunjingi categorisation.
But descritions are not that important.
An artist should not design a tree to fit a category, but rather tell a story and be pleasing to the eye.
When it comes to show time you can then find the category. (some are more than one category)
When a tree looks good with a branch in the lower 2/3 we should not remove this branch because we want to call the tree bunjingi.

Gerard

[Pup]

I am glad you made those comments about the tree fitting more than one ( 1 ) style as there are a lot of Bunjingi that do that. The problem I have is when some one says windswept or cascade Bunjingi. To me that is two pieces of cake. It is entered in Bunjingi not any of the other's so it is bunjingi.
The fact that twin trunk can fit in because of foliage placement is what makes Bunjingi different.

Thank you Gerard, for stimulating this thread Pup

[Jamie]

hey people great idea pup, this thread will not only help with guidelines, but give us some inspiration.
as much as i find most of these trees appealing i find that some cannoth be classed as just bunjingi. as stated before there is one that would fit a twin trunk broom style, and another an informal upright. even as stated understanding the disciplines of the style, these sort of things cannot be overlooked. for instance, if someone put tree number 5 ( i will use that as example as it is easiest for me too explain) into a exhibition or contest for bunjingi. would this tree be classifed as bunjingi or not? to me i would lean more so to the no side. there are some characteristics of this tree that can be considered bunjin with the foliage being 2/3s of the way up, a thinner trunk to the height of the tree. yet there is more to a good bunjin than this. tree number 5 shows characteristics of a full head of foliage which is not part of the style, it exhibits extensive branching, lack of trunk movement, although trunk movement is not entirely needed it takes a very good tree or artist to pull this of convincingly. the tree actually looks as though it was originally grown as a broom and a sucker has grew out of the nebari, the tree to me looks confused. now dont get me wrong i am only using this as an example that is easiest for me to explain.
now lets take a look at tree 6. this to me is a great example of the style with some charateristics similar in a sense to tree 5 yet this tree to me does not feel confused. now although this tree has extensive foliage, it is stepped and levelled to a point where it is nearly sparce. it shows its character of age. the movement in the trunk sleek and smooth yet still twisted and gnarled in a way to show what this tree has gone through. this one tells a story more so than number 5. ( i must say if i had the money and oppurtunity to buy this one i would )

tree number 7 to me also looks quite lost. im not exactly sure where or why it just doesnt fit right to me.

i think i have said enough for now. this is just what i see in a few of these trees, imo.


regards jamie

[Pup]

G,day number 5 was put in to stimulate the discussion it has. It is not in my opinion also a Bunjingi. All other's are.
Here are another 8 for you to study, for your own benefit as well as other's lets hear what you think.

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As I said to stimulate your imagination and conversation

[Watto]

If the object of the exercise was to makes us think, you have certainly achieved that.
I love the second lot of trees and to my way of thinking all fit the criteria. It is quite possible that by the time the contest ends our trees will not have too much foliage as they will be "newbies", but of course time will tell.
Thanks for the inspiration!

[bodhidharma]

Good God Pup, Where are you getting these trees from Now these are stunning examples.

[Bretts]

Now your talking Pup these are great No#12 is my favourite.
There is something about literati when it works it is magic.

[Watto]

If Bretts has got 12, I'll take 13?