In the world of bonsai, trees are trained and pruned to mimic the shapes found in natural, full-size trees. Since bonsai are always designed to be viewed from a “front”, these shapes are not strictly naturalistic; they symbolize natural forms rather than precisely duplicate them.
Hokidachi – Broom Style
The broom style represents the graceful, rounded shape of a deciduous tree that is allowed to grow without competition; the trunk is straight and tapering, and the branches fan out and branch finely to produce a gently rounded crown.
Chokkan – Formal Upright Style
The formal upright style symbolizes the growth of a conifer. Like the hokidachi, the truck is straight, but instead of fanning out, the branches grow straight out to the sides in an alternating pattern. The tree tapers to a point at the top.
Moyogi – Casual Upright Style
The informal upright style is similar to the formal upright style, but the trunk of the tree is sloped at the base and bends at each branch point, creating an overall upright presentation while having a curving trunk.
Shakkan – Inclined Style
When a tree grows partially in the shade or under the influence of a strong and constant wind, the trunk can grow leaning. The shakkan style mimics this type of tree; the trunk leans at a distinct angle, supported by a strong root system and counterbalancing branches.
Kengai and Han-Kengai: cascading and semi-cascading styles
Cascading bonsai styles represent a tree growing next to a cliff or along a river bank. Sometimes in nature, trees bend over in a cascade from the weight of the snow. These bonsai hang below the rim of the pot; Full cascading bonsai hang so deeply that the tip falls below the bottom of the pot.
Bujingi – Literary Style
This style is named after the scholars and artists who favor this style. The bonsai is stretched out and gnarled, representing a tree that has to fight for sunlight and survival. Bujingi bonsai are often adorned with debarked areas of dead wood called jin and Shari, to show the damage the tree has sustained in its lifetime.
Fukinagashi – Windswept Style
Another type of wind-bent bonsai is the fukinagashi. In this style, the branches grow from all sides of the tree, but they are all bent in one direction as if blown by a strong wind. This is another style that represents the tree’s struggle to survive.