Sifu,
since you were so kind to share your knowledge with me, I have
tried to share with you the Chinese ideas on Bonsai/Penjing.
The Chinese evolved Bonsai to an intellectual pursuit.
It is more than trying to make a tree look like a tree.
But you have often said reading of books is not for you.
So I am afraid Bonsai will remain, a gardener's practice.
Not to fuss, you are still Sifu.
I will not mention any of this again.
Humbly,
Anthony
Anthony, I used to read everything I could about bonsai. I have an extensive library on bonsai. Books, English language magazines, and Japanese magazines I cannot read, but the pictures are excellent.
But there’s only so much you can learn from seeing 2D pictures. Or even videos. How can you learn to refine if you’ve never really seen a refined tree up close and personal? How do you even know what “refined” is? Without seeing an example of the goal you have set, how do you know how to get there? Or if you have reached it?
Again, the whole idea of apprenticeships is to pass the knowledge. Yes, part of an apprenticeship s doing grunt work, but it is the master nurturing others showing proven techniques, pointing out mistakes and problem areas, and working out solutions. This direct feedback isn’t available via books, and video. Plus, as I have often said, books and videos are outdated as soon as they're Published.