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| Sunday, 12 October 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Bonsai galore
Demonstrations will be on Saturday 18th at 11.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. and on Sunday at 11.00 a.m. They will be conducted in English and Sinhala. The Chinese were the first to plant miniature trees in dishes and even today bonsai is part of Chinese culture. But it was not the Chinese who introduced the art of bonsai to the rest of world, it was the Japanese, according to a press release from the Sri Lanka Bonsai Association. Buddhist monks probably took bonsai to Japan in the 10th and 11th centuries. For them they were religious objects, 'verdant stairways leading to Heaven'. During the Yuan dynasty (AD 1280-1368) Japanese government ministers and merchants brought home bonsai as presents from China. Around 1644, a Chinese official fled from the rule of Manchus to Japan. He took with him his entire collection of bonsai literature and it was his specialist knowledge that contributed to the spread of the art in Japan. Around this time Japan was beginning to establish its own form of bonsai cultivation. This art which was at first the preserve of the Japanese aristocracy, the Samurai, because a hobby for all only at the end of the last century.No one can fail to be exchanted by these perfect little trees growing in dishes and resembling in every detail except size, trees growing in the wild. A little bit of skill is needed to shape and tend to the bonsai. But anyone who has had the luck with other plants will get a great deal of pleasure from creating a bonsai.The members of the Sri Lanka Bonsai Association will be exhibiting bonsai which have been created recently to ones that have been with them for over 12 years. There will be over 200 bonsai on display. The visitor will be able to see the magnificent trees found in Sri Lanka in miniature form and marvel at the skill of the local bonsai enthusiasts. |
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| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
The Sri Lanka Bonsai Association will be holding its annual exhibition
"Reflections 2003 Natural Images" at the J. R. Jayewardene
Cultural Centre from October 17 to 19. The exhibition will be open from
10.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. each day.
