Editing Bonsai (section)

===Early versions===
[[File:Kazan Zanketsu.jpg|thumb|alt=''Kazan'', 8th century|''Kazan'', 8th century]]
The [[Japanese art]] of bonsai is believed to have originated from ''[[bonkei]]'' ({{lang|ja|盆景}}, ''[[penjing]]'' in Chinese) introduced from China.<ref>{{cite book|last=Taylor|first=Patrick|title=The Oxford companion to the garden|year=2008|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-955197-2|page=53|edition=2nd}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last=Keswick | first=Maggie | title=In a Chinese Garden: The Art and Architecture of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden | year=1991 | publisher= Raincoast Book Dist Ltd. | location=Vancouver | isbn=978-0-9694573-0-5 | page=59 |author2=Oberlander, Judy |author3=Wai, Joe }}</ref> In the [[Tang dynasty|Tang Dynasty]], there was the art of representing natural scenery with plants and stones in a tray{{cn|date=September 2024}}

At that time, the term ''bonkei'' (''penjing'') was not yet used in China or Japan.<ref>{{Cite journal |last = Marushima |first = Hideo |title = 中国盆景と日本盆栽の呼称の歴史的研究 |trans-title = A Historical Study of Chinese Penjing and Japanese Bonsai Designations |journal = Landscape Research |publisher = Japanese Institute of Landscape Architecture |volume = 60 |issue = 1 |date = 1996–1997 | doi = 10.5632/jila.60.36 |doi-access = free }}</ref> Instead, the term ''penchi'' ({{lang|ch|盆池}}, {{lit|pond in a tray|lk=yes}}) was used in the Tang Dynasty.<ref>{{Cite book |last = Li |first = Shuhua |title = 中国盆景に関する文化史及び技術史的考察 |trans-title = A Cultural and Technological Historical Study of the Chinese Pengjing |date = 1997 |doi = 10.11501/3128538 |page = 116 |publisher = 京都大学 }}</ref> ''Penchi'' is a water tray in which water plants such as lotus and rice are planted.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

In Japan, the term ''kazan'' ({{lang|ja|仮山}}, {{lit|artificial mountain|lk=yes}}, later ''bonsan'') was used. In Japan's [[Shōsōin]], an incomplete specimen of a ''kazan'', in which modeled beaches and mountains fashioned from wood are decorated with small trees of silver metal, can be found today. A miniature lotus pond made of wood and gilt bronze has also been handed down in the Shōsōin. In this way, there were already ''bonsan''-like works in Japan during the [[Nara period]] (710-794), in which natural scenery was represented in a reduced scale.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last = Kitano |first = Masao |title = 眼痴のはなし |trans-title = Ganchi's story |magazine = Art News |issue = 5 |publisher = Osaka City Museum of Art Friends Association |date = November 1952 |pages = 9–10 |doi = 10.11501/8099997 }}</ref>

[[File:Suhama (ancestral form of bonsai).jpg|thumb|alt=Suhama|''Suhama''. From "Amusements at Higashiyama in Kyoto" (17th century).]]
In the [[Heian period]] (794-1185), ''suhama'' ({{lang|ja|洲浜}}, {{lit|Intricate beach|lk=yes}}), which expressed a beautiful landscape with plants and trees (often made of artificial materials) and accessories to match the title of a waka poem, were exhibited at poetry contests and competed with each other.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last = Moriya |first = Takeshi |title = 島台 |trans-title = Shimadai |magazine = Japan Arts and Crafts |issue = 497 |publisher = Nihon Bijutsu Kogeisha |date = February 1980 |doi = 10.11501/2281354 |page = 93}}</ref> ''Suhama'' is similar to ''bonkei'', but expresses a uniquely Japanese scene of white sand and green pine trees on a tray with legs that imitate a sandy beach. Later, it came to be called ''shimadai'' ({{lang|ja|島台}}, {{lit|island tray|lk=yes}}), and has been passed down to the present as a wedding ornament.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

[[File:Kasuga Gongen Genki E.jpg|thumb|Bonkei depicted in "Kasuga Gongen Genki E," 1309]]
In the [[History of Japan|medieval period]], recognizable bonsai were portrayed in [[handscroll]] paintings like the ''[[Ippen Shōnin Eden]]'' ({{lang|ja|一遍上人絵伝}}, 1299).<ref name="Kobayashi 2011 15">{{cite book|last=Kobayashi| first=Konio|title=Bonsai|year=2011| publisher=PIE International Inc. | location=Tokyo|isbn=978-4-7562-4094-1| page=15}}</ref> The 1195 scroll ''Saigyo Monogatari Emaki'' ({{lang|ja|西行物語絵巻}} is the earliest known to depict dwarfed potted trees in Japan. Wooden tray and dish-like pots with dwarf landscapes on modern-looking wooden shelves also appear in the 1309 ''[[Kasuga Gongen Genki E]]'' ({{lang|ja|春日権現験記絵}}, Legends of [[Kasuga Shrine]]) scroll. Dwarf trees displayed on short poles are portrayed in the 1351 ''Boki Ekotoba'' scroll.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.magiminiland.org/Paintings/Japanto1600.html  |title= Japanese Paintings: to 1600 |publisher=Magical Miniature Landscapes |access-date=2010-04-07}}</ref> Several other scrolls and paintings also include depictions of these kinds of trees.{{cn|date=September 2024}}

A close relationship between Japan's [[Zen|Zen Buddhism]] and the potted trees began to shape bonsai reputation and aesthetics, which were introduced to Japan from China. In this period, Chinese [[Chan Buddhism|Chan]] (pronounced "Zen" in Japanese) [[Bhikkhu|Buddhist monks]] taught at Japan's monasteries. One of the monks' activities was to introduce political leaders to various arts of miniature landscapes as admirable accomplishments for men of taste and learning.<ref name="The Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation, Suiseki and Its Use with Bonsai">{{cite book |author1=Covello, Vincent T.  |author2=Yuji Yoshimura  |name-list-style=amp| title=The Japanese Art of Stone Appreciation, Suiseki and Its Use with Bonsai  | publisher=Charles E. Tuttle | year=1984 | page=20}}</ref><ref name="Nippon Bonsai Association, pg. 144">{{cite book | author= Nippon Bonsai Association | title=Classic Bonsai of Japan|page= 144}}</ref> Potted landscape arrangements up to this period included miniature figurines after the Chinese fashion. Japanese artists eventually adopted a simpler style for bonsai, increasing focus on the tree by removing miniatures and other decorations, and using smaller, plainer pots.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.artofbonsai.org/feature_articles/mudman.php |author=Redding, Myron |title=Art of the Mud Man |publisher=Art of Bonsai |access-date=2010-04-07 |archive-date=2010-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225032423/http://www.artofbonsai.org/feature_articles/mudman.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>