Share Your MAPLE LITERATIS

[Bonsai Nut]

Ok i partially agree, but what about my Arakawa?

Since you asked - I don't think your design is a bunjin design. I want to repeat that it doesn't mean it is a bad tree. It just isn't a bunjin - at least to me.

Bunjin should evoke a simple abstract painting, poem, song, brush stroke. Hence the name "literati" - ie something a sophisticated abstract artist would create. The slang term for people who are well-read, sophisticated, abstract, writers, poets, etc is "literati".

General characteristics:
* No pattern - irregular and almost looks disfigured
* Looks like it is struggling for survival (though the tree should be healthy)
* Form is from wind or weather. Not too rugged or heavy
* Free, unconstrained, unconventional
* Dreamlike, unexpected, abstract

Your tree is (to me) far too regular, far too symmetrical. If you look at only the trunk I see a dead straight lower section that rises vertically, and then a soft bend. That's all (from a bunjin perspective). There is nothing abstract, and it is heavy and tapered - which is not surprising given that it is a cork bark tree. It certainly doesn't remind me of a brush stroke - or a haiku in a tree form.

 

[Michael P]

Interesting discussion, it clarifies the elements of bunjin for me.

 

[Gabler]

Since you asked - I don't think your design is a bunjin design. I want to repeat that it doesn't mean it is a bad tree. It just isn't a bunjin - at least to me.

Bunjin should evoke a simple abstract painting, poem, song, brush stroke. Hence the name "literati" - ie something a sophisticated abstract artist would create. The slang term for people who are well-read, sophisticated, abstract, writers, poets, etc is "literati".

General characteristics:
* No pattern - irregular and almost looks disfigured
* Looks like it is struggling for survival (though the tree should be healthy)
* Form is from wind or weather. Not too rugged or heavy
* Free, unconstrained, unconventional
* Dreamlike, unexpected, abstract

Your tree is (to me) far too regular, far too symmetrical. If you look at only the trunk I see a dead straight lower section that rises vertically, and then a soft bend. That's all (from a bunjin perspective). There is nothing abstract, and it is heavy and tapered - which is not surprising given that it is a cork bark tree. It certainly doesn't remind me of a brush stroke - or a haiku in a tree form.

I guess it's a Wittgensteinian family resemblance?

 

[Juanmi]

I personally think about half of the bonsai in this thread are not literati/bunjin. That doesn't make them bad bonsai, but people need to brush up on the style (pun intended). Just because you have a tall slender tree does not mean it is a literati. I'm seeing a lot of standard informal, or slant style trees here.

A literati is evaluated solely by the line of the trunk, with minimal branches. It is supposed to look like a brush stroke - and evoke the spirit of a scholar's work in classic painting or calligraphy. It is a surreal, expressionistic form.

That was exactly what I was thinking while watching the thread.
By the way, my favourite one is still the tree that started this thread, would like to see its rebirth from the ashes like the Phoenix @MACH5

 

[MACH5]

That was exactly what I was thinking while watching the thread.
By the way, my favourite one is still the tree that started this thread, would like to see its rebirth from the ashes like the Phoenix @MACH5

Thank you! Specially because there are many here so much more beautiful than mine. I sold that tree like 2 or 3 years ago. Not sure of it's current whereabouts.

 

[Veebs]

Since you asked - I don't think your design is a bunjin design. I want to repeat that it doesn't mean it is a bad tree. It just isn't a bunjin - at least to me.

Bunjin should evoke a simple abstract painting, poem, song, brush stroke. Hence the name "literati" - ie something a sophisticated abstract artist would create. The slang term for people who are well-read, sophisticated, abstract, writers, poets, etc is "literati".

General characteristics:
* No pattern - irregular and almost looks disfigured
* Looks like it is struggling for survival (though the tree should be healthy)
* Form is from wind or weather. Not too rugged or heavy
* Free, unconstrained, unconventional
* Dreamlike, unexpected, abstract

Your tree is (to me) far too regular, far too symmetrical. If you look at only the trunk I see a dead straight lower section that rises vertically, and then a soft bend. That's all (from a bunjin perspective). There is nothing abstract, and it is heavy and tapered - which is not surprising given that it is a cork bark tree. It certainly doesn't remind me of a brush stroke - or a haiku in a tree form.

Could literati be thought of as a spectrum? I propose this because, while I found your description of literati to be beautiful, it also felt contradictory. You describe bunjin as embodying the qualities of a haiku or brush stroke—minimalist, flowing, and deliberate. But then you continue with descriptors like ‘unexpected,’ ‘abstract,’ and ‘irregular.’ To me, these don’t feel like a continuation of the same idea, but rather like a different end of the spectrum from haiku and brush stroke.

The first evokes intentional elegance, where simplicity and refinement take center stage. The second feels freer, more chaotic, and untamed—like a tree shaped by struggle or unexpected forces. Both are valid and intriguing interpretations, but they feel like distinct expressions rather than parts of the same definition.

If literati is meant to encompass both, then perhaps it’s best understood as a spectrum of styles that range from minimalist and intentional to abstract and irregular. That perspective allows room for these seemingly contradictory elements to coexist within the same artistic tradition.

 

[Juanmi]

Could literati be thought of as a spectrum? I propose this because, while I found your description of literati to be beautiful, it also felt contradictory. You describe bunjin as embodying the qualities of a haiku or brush stroke—minimalist, flowing, and deliberate. But then you continue with descriptors like ‘unexpected,’ ‘abstract,’ and ‘irregular.’ To me, these don’t feel like a continuation of the same idea, but rather like a different end of the spectrum from haiku and brush stroke.

The first evokes intentional elegance, where simplicity and refinement take center stage. The second feels freer, more chaotic, and untamed—like a tree shaped by struggle or unexpected forces. Both are valid and intriguing interpretations, but they feel like distinct expressions rather than parts of the same definition.

If literati is meant to encompass both, then perhaps it’s best understood as a spectrum of styles that range from minimalist and intentional to abstract and irregular. That perspective allows room for these seemingly contradictory elements to coexist within the same artistic tradition.

I hear what you mean.
To me the description of literati was perfect and not necessarily contradictory. If you're familiar with the Japanese Cursive you can see that it is elegant, simplistic and refined, but at the same time has irregular and unexpected brushstrokes. Personally that's precisely the reason I find the Japanese Cursive (and by extension, the literati style) extremely appealing.

 

[Veebs]

Bill, I had your tree in mind when I identified the line for this literati air layer. This tree was separated in the fall, but I'm excited to begin the process of developing it as a slender literati.

Its literati-ness may be up for debate given the above discussion, but my first priority is getting it established on its own roots, and then we will see where it goes.

The literati style is an elegant form of bonsai. The Japanese word “Bunjin” means “learned man” or “man of scholars.” The English word “literati” means “men of letters or learned men.” That’s it. The Chinese literati were well educated scholars who became boarded with the classics and decided to play with paintings. They painted according to their amusement, not necessarily realistic. Their quick whimsical paintings were to please themselves, and were not a commercial endeavor. Some Japanese artists appreciated this form and duplicated these paintings. Eventually the Japanese bonsai community decided to copy the Japanese literati painting forms with trees, which was originally for Chinese scholars. They turned to nature for forms.

Usually bonsai styles classified according to trunk shape (formal/informal upright, slanting and cascade.) However bonsai are also classified by the number of trunks (twin, triple, multiple,) method of planting (forest, rock, root connected,) and size (mame, shohin, medium, large.)

There are three styles of bonsai defined by “feeling” rather than a specific shape. The literati, windswept and broom styles do not have a typical defined form. They are loosely defined by the feeling they present to the viewer. And, perhaps the viewer’s interpretation can change as well. One might see a tree as a delicate literati bonsai while someone else might think it is too heavy or coarse.

A straight trunk tree with few delicate branches might present a literati feeling to some, while only a formal upright form is apparent to others. And, if all the branches are one side of the trunk, it might appear to be windswept. If all the branches are evenly distributed around the trunk, a broom style might be suggested. In the end, the trunk is absolutely straight, so it is of course a formal upright style according to the trunk shape.

Although almost any species can be trained in the literati style, some are better suited than others. For example, the Japanese maple has better characteristics than the Trident maple because of its fine texture and delicate foliage. Some of the dwarf cultivars of Japanese maples such as Shishigashira and Koto Hime grow tight and congested with curled leaves, not flat. These are more of a challenge to train in the literati style.

I just took a few quick photos of one of my Koto Hime Japanese maple bonsai container trained in the literati style from a cutting for over 30 years. This bonsai has a form which interests me. Like other well styled bonsai, it has multiple fronts, which I like because they can be easily exhibited in a specific area providing directionality to the display. I like the crossing lower trunk, and without this focal point branch the bonsai form would be dull, uninteresting and common. Take your pick as to the front. My front changes all the time.

But, please do not forget to enjoy and appreciate your bonsai. That is the most important aspect to this art. The name or label one puts on the bonsai is only one person’s opinion. The beauty is the most important aspect of bonsai in my opinion.View attachment 220271View attachment 220272View attachment 220271View attachment 220273View attachment 220274View attachment 220275