Single Trunk Styles
Chokkan—Formal
Upright
The formal upright style is characterized by a perfectly straight, vertical
trunk, with branches placed at specified positions. The image is of a lone,
stately tree, unbent by catastrophe or climate. One of the most difficult styles
to properly achieve, as root base, trunk, branching, and foliage, must all be
ideal to truly aspire to a great formal upright tree.
To the left we see a stately, nearly
perfect formal upright natural tree (Jeffrey pine) at about 8,000 feet elevation. While this
tree has obviously been blasted by ice, ultraviolet radiation, and other
extremes of nature, its symmetry and austerity show it to be a fabulous example
in nature of the formal upright.
Tachiki—Informal Upright
The primary characteristic of the informal upright tree is its trunk movement,
right to left, and back to front. It may be very gentle in its movement, or more
bold and dynamic, as seen at the right in this Chinese Hackberry (Celtis
Sinensis.) Its branches originate at the outside of trunk curves, and the
apex is directly over the root base. This is a more commonly seen style because
it is more common in nature.
Shakan—Slant
The slant style tree is reminiscent of the wild tree fallen to one side because
of weak soil, or of a tree pushed over by rockslide or other cataclysm. The
trunk may have some movement.
Kengai—Cascade
Illustrating perfectly the tree which clings to the cliff face in spite of
incredible odds, the cascade falls over the lip of its tall pot at an angle
between approximately 135 degrees and 270 degrees, or about 4 o’clock and 6
o’clock.
Han-Kengai—Semi-cascade
The semi-cascade, much like the cascade, cannot be called an upright style.
Instead of moving upward, the general thrust of this tree is to the side and
downward to almost 4 o’clock.
Bunjin
or bunjingi—Literati
The literati style (left, Ponderosa Pine) is said to have begun as a
result of the bonsai masters going beyond their teachers and the conventions of
bonsai to realize the serene beauty of the natural tree. This style is
characterized by long, stately trunks with unusual movement, and sparse
branching and foliage. Many of the trees collected in nature defy
categorization. Their struggle against the vicissitudes of nature have left them
with an aura of strength, endurance, venerability. This is the image the bunjin
tree attempts to evoke.
Sabamiki—Split or Hollowed Trunk
Whether pestilence or calamity, the tree that survives being split in two speaks
to us of the struggle inherent in overcoming adversity.
Sharimiki—Driftwood
The sharimiki style reminds us of the vicissitudes of life, the misfortunes that
must be overcome. The large areas of deadwood testify to the heroic epic of life
overcoming death. This title is used when the predominant characteristic of the
tree is the deadwood. Nowhere is this more evident than in the blue spruce at
right. I came on this tree at about 9,000 feet elevation in Colorado.
Fukinagashi—Windswept
Giving the impression of the shoreline tree lashed by storm and wind, the
windswept style speaks volumes. Considered by some masters to be overused as a
result of poor nursery stock. Ben Oki says “One windswept tree is enough for
anyone.”
Neagari—Exposed Root
As the stream floods, the bank collapses, leaving the roots exposed to air and
sunlight. The roots become stronger in order to support the tree. The exposed
root style mimics this process, although the style has somewhat fallen out of
favor in recent years. The Japanese Black Pine (Pinus Thunbergii) on the
left stands firmly on its long roots. It is in the process of a
complete restyling.
Sekijoju—Root Over Rock
This title is reserved for the tree that has clasped the rock, with the roots
reaching down into the soil. The Trident Maple is very popular in this style.
Ishitsuki—Clinging to Rock
The Clinging to Rock tree is like the Root Over Rock, except that the root ball
is contained by the rock itself. The tree survives in a small pocket of soil.
Nejikan—Twisted Trunk
The wood of the twisted trunk style gives the impression that the tree has grown
in the heart of a whirlwind. Any deadwood spirals dizzyingly around the trunk.
Takozukuri—Octopus Style
Favored many years ago, every inch of wood on the octopus style tree is
contorted much like that beloved sushi source.
