Hachi no Ki Bonsai (Boki Ekotoba)
Image: 藤原隆章・隆昌 (Fujiwara no Taka'aki and Fujiwara no Takamasa) (Public domain)
NameHachi no Ki Bonsai (Boki Ekotoba)
Species NameUnidentified Deciduous Tree
Common NameUnidentified Deciduous Tree
Bonsai Styleinformal-upright
Estimated Age (years)70
Container TypeCeramic pot, round
Geographic Originasia
Cultivation Difficultyintermediate
Trunk Featuresgnarled, twisted, tapered
Foliage Typedeciduous (bare)
Height (cm)50
Nebari (Root Flare) QualityIndeterminate (due to artistic style)
Notable FeaturesHistorical depiction from 1351 'Boki Ekotoba' scroll, showcasing early bonsai practice in Japan.
Description
This painting from 1351 depicts three small, bare deciduous bonsai trees, likely in their winter dormancy. Each tree exhibits a gnarled, somewhat twisted trunk and an informal-upright style, presented in a round ceramic pot on a stand. They represent an early historical record of bonsai cultivation in Japan.
