Eric shares tips and advice on making Bunjin pines (aka Literati), using six three-year-old pines he started from seed. It's amazing how fun it can be to style bonsai trees!
Bunjin is a minimalist style of bonsai, and because of this, every aspect of the tree has to be really interesting. Bunjin trees are tall and elegant.
00:00:44 Eric shows the difference in growing style and techniques he uses for creating small compact shohin or smaller bonsai, versus those he uses for bunjin.
00:01:33 What inspired Eric to make a batch of "dancing" bunjin in the first place!
00:01:46 The first step for tree #1 is to remove the top layer of soil to see the start of the nebari (roots). Next, Eric explains why he removes some needles and not others.
00:03:56 Why Eric uses bright, non-anodized aluminum (aluminium) "growers" wire.
00:04:34 Eric cuts out the central leader bud because he wants slower growth.
00:05:21 The fun part! The key to this bunjin style. The goal is subtle movement, but that doesn't preclude creating sharp bends and some twists!
00:06:55 A 360 degree view of tree #1. How do you think it looks?
00:07:00 Eric specifically grew tree #2 to be bunjin but it lacks movement where Eric wants it. So he creates it!
00:07:58 A 360 degree view.
00:08:01 Tree #3 was wired when young to have a tight bend; Eric finds a wacky root. Eric wires and focuses on creating movement higher in the trunk.
00:09:07 A 360 degree view.
00:09:25 What Eric likes about this style and a review of more traditional bunjin style trees.
00:09:54 One of Eric's favorite bunjin styles has a low branch, and he works on tree #4 to make that style.
00:10:45 Tips for creating turns in the trunk plus a 360 degree view.
00:11:11 Tree #5 needs bigger wire for Eric to put a bend near the base of the trunk.
00:12:16 A 360 degree view.
00:12:21 How to create a larger composition than the trunk - point the dominant bud at the top of the tree down or sideways. It will naturally curve back up.
00:12:58 Tree #6 is slant style bunjin.
00:13:36 Remember: bunjin is a minimalist style. Eric's offers a few final tips for when these trees are moving from early to middle development.
Do you have any bunjin pines? Which style do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below! Thank you for watching; please like this video and share it your bonsai buddies!