Question About Japanese Aesthetics / Trunk Shape and Form

[Deleted member 47471]

Watching the Bonsai Q YouTube video on wiring techniques, the teacher made this statement featured in the photo below:



I have searched online for the meaning and understanding of reliquary with no hits, only to conclude it must be a reference to Shari/appearance of age/being a relic (?)

I assume round trunk means a cylinder of even diameter. Does board trunk, then, mean the opposite, as in a change in diameter and overall appearance of a trunk? Would this be like a long flat board that is twisted (or something sculpted?)



Will someone with in depth understanding and knowledge of Japanese bonsai shed some light on this? Am I completely misunderstanding his meaning of “round trunk” vs. “board trunk”?

Is there a specific term for the type of sculpted form of trunk that I often see that appears flat, thin, and has diameter changes?

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Statement made at 35:52 timestamp here:

 

[Paradox]

A reliquary is a small box or shrine where sacred relics are kept.

Doesn't make a lot of sense to me atm

 

[RJG2]

Not sure why it's translated that way, but I'm 99% sure reliquary just means shari in Bonsai Q videos.

I only say this having watched pretty much every Q video - and the context it's used is always when referring to shari.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Not sure why it's translated that way, but I'm 99% sure reliquary means shari in Bonsai Q videos.

I only say this having watched pretty much every Q video - and the context it's used is always when referring to shari.

What about “board trunk” as he used the term opposed to the round trunk?

 

[RJG2]

What about “board trunk” as he used the term opposed to the round trunk?

Shari carved to make the trunk flat. Often leaving a very small live vein. Twisted or not.

They also talk about leaving a live vein on opposing sides, which expand outward and help accentuate the board shape - later removing one side; keeping one live vein.

Jonas and @Eric Schrader also talk about this a bit in the latest Bonsai Wire podcast.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

What about “board trunk” as he used the term opposed to the round trunk?

Darn @RJG2 pressed send seconds before I did

Believe what this guy really means is once the lifeline has been established for a while on both sides of the trunk , or even one side, the trunk shape will change from round to broad. This will occur as the lifelines swells and the Shari will remain static.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Darn @RJG2 pressed send seconds before I did

Believe what this guy really means is once the lifeline has been established for a while on both sides of the trunk , or even one side, the trunk shape will change from round to broad. This will occur as the lifelines swells and the Shari will remain static.

Cheers
DSD sends

Understood!

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Shari carved to make the trunk flat. Often leaving a very small live vein. Twisted or not.

They also talk about leaving a live vein on opposing sides, which expand outward and help accentuate the board shape - later removing one side; keeping one live vein.

Jonas and @Eric Schrader also talk about this a bit in the latest Bonsai Wire podcast.

Much appreciated! I’ll find the podcast and likely subscribe, if needed to access that content.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Eric also has two courses. One on Shohin juniper and one on JBP Shohin at Bonsaify. Despite the name the techiques are transferable to larger trees, especially the juniper course.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Shari carved to make the trunk flat. Often leaving a very small live vein. Twisted or not.

They also talk about leaving a live vein on opposing sides, which expand outward and help accentuate the board shape - later removing one side; keeping one live vein.

Jonas and @Eric Schrader also talk about this a bit in the latest Bonsai Wire podcast.

Wow, at 16 minutes he nails exactly what I was thinking about in my mind earlier today. This is amazing. I’ve been thinking about this for a while now and this podcast made it all clear in about 15 minutes.