BONSAI DEFINITIONS
Bonsai ……………. shaped tree in a pot [ or on a slab or anything that is instead of pot ] Japanese limit of 1 metre in height
Jin………… dead branch stripped of bark , left to be part of design
Shari………. area on trunk or branch stripped of bark as a feature
Shabamiki …….. hollowed out part of trunk , usually associated with shari
Uro…………. isolated hole , commonly a disguise for a large pruning wound
Rammification ……… frequently dividing branches or roots , desirable !!!
nebari………….. spoke like spread of surface roots at the base of the trunk buttress
Bonsai sizes
mame……………. very small bonsai , literally bean sized , about under 15cms
shohin……………..small bonsai , shohin is Japanese for ”small ” about under 25cms [ was 22cms until the best bonsai in the class grew ]
kifu…………….. next size up but a class rarely used
chuhin………….. medium size bonsai height limit about 45 cms but has clearly to be not a large tree , ie not heavy trunked
A word here about these size categories , you do not see folk with tape measures at Japanese bonsai shows , you are expected to have a sufficient feel for the art to be able to judge a tree’s category by just looking at it !!
