What is Ezo matsu and what is ibigawa? - Thoughts on a special Japanese bonsai

Ezo matsu, known as Japanese Picea jezoensis, is a pine tree with extremely short shoots and small needles. Spruce. Jezo spruce. And in a lucky look. Its old style presents the sekijoju bonsai style with a few other smaller plants. The stone attached to the composition is an ibiwaga stone, which is partly traditional in nature and partly unique - in the sense that most high quality japanese bonsai are chosen with an ibigawa stone when imagining the composition with stone. In this case, the ratio of bowl to wood is different and the relationship can be handled a little more relaxed. We prefer the bowl to the total weight of the composition rather than the bonsai's style and height. Its stone - under the Ezo matsu - planted (also sekijoju), despite its small size, has a major and important role to play. The principle is that bonsai trees should be able to express the current season. Since pines are evergreens, it is almost impossible in their case - (partly) therefore symbols of permanence. But Japanese maple can express winter, spring, summer and autumn. It does not take away the size by its size, but it is an indication of what the season is like with its foliage and its color or foliage.

The interesting thing about bonsai trees, which can symbolize permanence and transience at the same time, is that the role of the accent elements that can be placed next to them is slightly modified. If we think of kusamono (which also expresses the season), the seasonal part of the whole composition can be regarded as a repetition in its literal interpretation, as is the case with accent shohins. To avoid this, the suiseki, tenpai or seasonal fruit may be the luckier choice. With the latter accents, putting out such bonuses is a unique thing in itself, and by the way we can create a very sophisticated atmosphere.