Bonsai School – Bonsai Definitions

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 !!