The art of bonsai originated in ancient China where nature's own bonsai, shaped and dwarfed by harsh winds and with naturally restricted root growth, were taken from the wild and cultivated in pots.

Around the 11th century, under the influence of Zen Buddhism, many Chinese arts and customs, including bonsai were absorbed into the Japan culture. Over the next four centuries Japanese bonsai became a highly refined artistic discipline. Techniques became ritualised -the shapes and positions of branches and trunks were governed by a strict code.

Dwarfing and extending the life of trees was an expression of the search for immortality prevailing in the religious and philosophic beliefs of the cultures of the time. Miniaturising trees was thought to concentrate and manipulate their magical qualities.

REGION: QLD > Brisbane