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The UP Bonsai Garden
=The UP Bonsai Garden=
''This article is about the UP Bonsai Garden. To learn more about its founder, Modesto Manglicmot, refer to this article [http://iskwiki.upd.edu.ph/index.php/Modesto_Manglicmot#Modesto_Manglicmot].''


''Background''<br />
==Overview==
The Bonsai Garden is located at Delos Santos Avenue along Delos Reyes Street in the University of the Philippines, Diliman. It is a 5000-square meter lot that lies within the property of the UP College of Architecture and is taken care of and maintained by Mr. Modesto Manglicmot, a noted landscape designer and a bonsai cultivator.
The UP Bonsai Garden, also known as Mr. Modesto Manglicmot’s Bonsai Garden, is a 5000-square meter garden filled with bonsai located within the perimeter of the University of the Philippines, Diliman. The entrance to this bonsai garden is located along Delos Reyes Street and is just a 5-minute walk from the UP College of Architecture. (Refer to the attached map)


It exhibits not only Bonsais but also other species of plants personally cultivated by Mr. Modesto Manglicmot, who donated 175 of his Bonsais to the University as part of a memorandum of agreement signed on April 4, 2000. Prior to the donation though, Mr. Manglicmot's bonsais were formerly displayed at the Manila Seeding Bank Garden in Quezon City.
The UP Bonsai Garden is currently being maintained by Manuel “Manny” Manglicmot, nephew of the late Modesto “Modi” Manglicmot whom the garden was named after.  
In 2002, two years after the memorandum of agreement was signed, the Bonsai Garden was opened to the public. Presently, the garden boasts of a wide array of over 400 home grown Bonsais and is displayed for free to anyone who wishes to view them. Although large amounts of money, even reaching millions, were offered to purchase Mr. Manglicmot's bonsais, they have never been for sale, not even for the purpose of gaining income. Instead, income for maintenance of the Bonsai Garden comes from the rent that is paid to use the garden for various events, which include weddings, parties, book releases and the like.


''Awards''<br />
[[File:Manny-Manglicmot-01.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Manuel Manglicmot<br>''Kuya Manny'']]
From Mr. Manglicmot’s collection, 98 percent are Philippine species and more than 50 percent have won awards, with 25 pieces belonging to the top 10 winners in various Bonsai competitions. In addition, two trees have won as Best Bonsai in Show and three as Best Plant in Show in the Philippine Horticultural Annual Exhibit.[1]
''
Design''<br />
Because the concept of a bonsai garden is Japanese in nature, many characteristics of Japanese architecture can be seen in the UP Bonsai Garden. It must be known that gardens are important to the Japanese because they believe that their home is an extension of nature, and therefore they must have even just a part of nature in their homes. Japanese gardens were developed under the influences of the distinctive and stylized Chinese gardens and the tradition was passed down from sensei to apprentice, in the same way that the art of cultivating bonsai was taught to Mr. Manglicmot by a master of the art.


The art behind Japanese gardens is based on three principles: reduced scale, symbolizations and borrowed view. First, the principle of reduced scale means to miniaturize views seen in the unbuilt environment such as rivers, ponds and mountains, enabling them to be confined in a closed or limited space. This is an important principle because it exhibits the belief of the Japanese that nature is an extension of their home. Second, symbolizations in Japanese gardens means using objects such as rocks or water to represent large scenes or objects. This is seen in the way raked sand is used to represent rivers, and groupings of rocks and stones is used to represent islands. Last, borrowed views is the manner in which Japanese gardens seemingly encompass even the spaces, such as mountains, forests and rivers, even though the spaces are beyond it. The principle of borrowed views makes the garden seem larger and more spacious, using elements beyond it. Also, it must be noted that aside from these principles, the typical features of a Japanese garden include rocks, a water feature, enclosure devices such as a fence or hedge, moss and ornaments, and also that Japanese architecture uses Shizen or natural, meaning the utilization of natural materials is present. It is a characteristic, after all, not only of Japanese architecture but of Japanese gardens as well, to follow the belief of Metabolism in design, which is the utilization and preference of natural, temporal and organic materials over those of which are processed or manufactured.[2]
Prior to his death, Modesto Manglicmot was the main caretaker of the bonsai garden. He did the landscape design and the cultivated numerous bonsais that eventually became part of the UP Bonsai Garden. He even donated around 175 bonsais from his own private collection to the UP Bonsai Garden as part of a memorandum of agreement between himself and the University of the Philippines, signed on April 4, 2000. Aside from bonsais, the garden also exhibits other species of plants personally cultivated by Modesto Manglicmot, such as palm trees, ferns, and vines. At one point, the number of bonsais housed in the UP Bonsai Garden reached 400. They were there for the public’s appreciation. The garden was open to the public any time of the day and the entrance was free.  


If the UP Bonsai Garden is observed carefully, these elements are present. The Bonsai Garden is an example of a reduced scale space in an enclosed, which miniaturizes a forest or a natural aspect of the environment. It makes use of stones and rocks, water features and the plants, of course, and it seemingly extends beyond its 50-meter by 100-meter property line, to the areas beyond it. Unfortunately, new buildings are being constructed and these obstruct the borrowed views the Bonsai Garden used to have. The Bonsai Garden also makes use of different man made elements, such as the boundaries, which are, too, very Japanese. At first glance, these boundaries appear as capiz windows found in Philippine architecture, but if they are observed closer, they actually are Shoji windows, as proved by the wideness of the spaces bounded by the wood. The use of Shoji windows and of bamboo as a finish to the structural support of the shaded areas of the garden is an example of Metabolism and the whole of the garden emphasizes nature and its connection to man and his or her home.
Modesto Manglicmot’s bonsais were really spectacular and were sought after by many collectors. Although large amounts of money, even reaching millions, were offered to purchase his bonsais, they have never been for sale. Modesto Manglicmot were attached to his bonsais and never once thought of selling them. Instead of selling his bonsais, he prefers giving them as gifts to his closest friends or donating them for fund raising event.  


About Mr. Modesto Manglicmot<br />
Nowadays, around 200 bonsais remain in the UP Bonsai Garden. Many of Modesto Manglicmot’s bonsais either died or were taken away by his wife after his death in 2012. Only a few of his award winning bonsais remain in the grounds of the UP Bonsai Garden.


Modesto Manglicmot was an agriculturist at the University of the Philippines Los Baños from 1953 to 1970. Upon graduating, instead of applying for government positions, he did actual farming to broaden his agricultural experience. In 1970, he applied for a teaching position in Jose Abad Santos Memorial School (JASMS), a school in Quezon City. In his 15 years there, he worked on ornamental plant production, rice culture and poultry.
==History==
Modesto Manglicmot’s Bonsai Garden was not initially located in the University of the Philippines. In the 1970s, his bonsais were initially displayed at his home in Project 8, Quezon City and in the greenhouse in Jose Abad Santos Memorial School (JASMS) where he used to teach. In 1985, Meralco, the electric power distributor in Metro Manila, lent him a piece of land in Marikina City under a contract. Upon the contract’s expiration in 1990, Modesto Manglicmot moved his bonsais to the Manila Seedling Bank Garden in Quezon City. His bonsais were displayed there for almost ten years until the University of the Philippines, under the administration of President Emil Q. Javier, offered him a piece of land within the campus which he could develop into his own bonsai garden. Part of the April 4, 2000 memorandum of agreement between himself and the university is his donation of almost 175 bonsais from his own personal collection to this garden, and that all the bonsais to be grown in the bonsai garden shall be property of the university. Over the years, Mr. Manglicmot was able to grow hundreds of bonsais in this garden. At one point, the number of bonsais in the garden reached 400.  


The art of making bonsai actually wasn't part of his plans but it found its way through Mr. Modesto's life when he happened to read an article in Reader’s Digest and thought that it would be easy working on Bonsais. He assumed that one would simply have to do the opposite of growing a plant; giving less water etc. (Incidentally, Bonsais need a lot of water for its preservation) He found out soon enough that tending to Bonsais was a much more difficult feat to accomplish.
To help maintain the UP Bonsai Garden, Mr. Manglicmot employed the help his nephews Rupino “Rappy” and Manuel “Manny” Manglicmot, and another caretaker named Danny.  


In 1980, he applied as a regular member of the Philippine Bonsai Society. It was also in this year that he was assigned to head a small group of ten members that was to participate in the biennial Bonsai Show; a Japanese event. Sir Modi prepared the stands and the backdrop of the Bonsais and he displayed three of what he thought were his best. But when his group mates brought in their Bonsai,in Sir Modi’s own words he said: “If I can only disappear, I would have disappeared”. Then he thought, “If my Bonsai are ugly and theirs are pretty, then I will have contributed something to the group also. My Bonsais will provide the contrast between a good and an ugly Bonsai”. Because of his first Bonsai exhibit experience, Sir Modi was challenged to do better and excel in this art.
Since the opening of the UP Bonsai Garden, Mr. Manglicmot has been offering Saturday Bonsai Classes for free to any one interested in learning how to grow and care for bonsais. The garden was also open to anyone who wants to appreciate the beauty of bonsais. Mr. Manglicmot did not charge an entrance fee. Events such as weddings, small parties, and book launches have also been held in the garden for a small fee, that it’s practically free.  


Sir Modi then went to an annual Bonsai and Suiseki exhibition and convention in Osaka, Japan to gain more knowledge and experience about the art of bonsai making. He went there not only to know more about Bonsai but also to find someone who would teach him the basics of Bonsai making. He was given one-on-one sessions by a master of the art and his instructor even let him have a hands-on experience. At the end of their 4 day session, he was surprised, albeit very pleased to find out that the sessions were done for free. This was because he was a member of the Philippine Bonsai Society which was affiliated to the Nippon Bonsai Society in Japan. This is the reason why Sir Modi does not charge his students in the Bonsai-making workshop he has on Saturdays. He teaches people who are interested in the art, for free. One of his students was former UP President Emilio Javier. The workshop starts at 10 o’clock in the morning.
On April 3, 2012, Modesto Manglicmot passed away. Since then, the management of the UP Bonsai Garden was fully transferred to the University of the Philippines. The university passed stricter rules and regulations regarding the use of the UP Bonsai Garden. Nowadays, in order to enter the garden, people must first secure an authorization from the UP Business Concessions Office. New rates have also been released for the rental of the different venues in the UP Bonsai Garden. Aside from these, the garden itself has also changed. The number of bonsais has been reduced to around 200 since some died and many were taken away by Mr. Manglicmot’s wife.<ref>From the interview with Manuel Manglicmot. Conducted by Gail Gorospe and Eduardo Puyat. 23 September 2013.</ref>


Mr. Modesto Manglicmot was the former President of the Suiseki and Saikei Society of the Philippines, the Philippine Bonsai Society, the Philippine Horticultural Society and the Fern Society of the Philippines.
==Usage & Rental==
[[File:Bonsai-Garden-Wedding.jpg|200px|thumb|Wedding at the UP Bonsai Garden]]
The UP Bonsai Garden can be rented for events such as book launches, weddings, debuts and other parties. The areas in the Bonsai Garden that can be rented are the following:


Although he owns one of the most beautiful and expensive Bonsai collections, Sir Modi appears to be a very simple man. Several times, He has been offered more than a million pesos for a beautiful Bonsai, but he has declined a number of times too, not being interested in the money his Bonsais could generate for him. Instead, he would occasionally give a Bonsai as a gift.
*Main Garden – P10,000
*Cogon Hall (small pavilion near the entrance) – P7,000
*Kakawati Hall (big pavilion) – P15,000
*Greenhouse – P15,000


Corenne Martin and Trisha Cruz
The above rates are for the first 5 hours. For every succeeding hour, P1000 shall be added to the total rental fee. <ref>Rental rates as of October 2013, as stipulated by the University of the Philippines Business Concessions Office</ref>
References: Pineda, Haidee. UPD's Bonsai Garden. From http://www.upd.edu.ph/whatsup/venue.html


Caption1<br />
The following are the steps in booking the UP Bonsai Garden:


Caption2<br />
# Get a form from the UP Business Concessions Office (BCO), near College of Fine Arts.
Bulaong, Carmen Bettina (Professor, College of Architecture). Lecture on Japanese Architecture. 17 February 2012.
# Fill it out and have it signed by the caretaker. (3 copies all in all – one for person renting, one for caretaker, another for the BCO).
Virtudazo, Maricar. UP Diliman Bonsai Garden breathes new life to a fading art form. From http://www.noypi.ph/index.php/featured/5080-up-diliman-bonsai-garden-breathes-new-life-to-a-fading-art-form.html
# Pay rental about a week before the event at the cashier’s office located in the shopping center. Return receipt to the Business Office.
 
==Bonsai Collection==
As previously mentioned, the UP Bonsai Garden hosts a variety of plant species turned into bonsais, most of which are species endemic to the Philippines. The following are some of the bonsais housed in the UP Bonsai Garden:
 
<center>
[[File:Bonsai-01.JPG|400px|thumb|center|Plant Type: ''Red Balete'' <br>Bonsai Style: ''Informal upright, exposed roots''<br>Name: ''Saddam'']]
 
[[File:Bonsai-02.JPG|400px|thumb|center|Plant Type: ''Kalyos'' <br>Bonsai Style: ''Broom''<br>Name: ''Lollipop'']]
 
[[File:Bonsai-03.jpg|400px|thumb|center|Plant Type: ''Red Balete'' <br>Bonsai Style: ''Slanted'']]
 
[[File:Bonsai-04.JPG|400px|thumb|center|Plant Type: ''Red Balete'' <br>Bonsai Style: ''Multi-trunk, Exposed Roots'']]
 
[[File:Bonsai-05.JPG|400px|thumb|center|Plant Type: ''Kamagong'' <br>Bonsai Style: ''Informal Upright, Multi-Trunk''<br>Name: ''Saddam'']]
 
[[File:Bonsai-06.JPG|400px|thumb|center|Plant Type: ''Yangya'' <br>Bonsai Style: ''Slanted''<br>Note: Yangya tree is also known as ''Aquino tree'']]
 
[[File:Bonsai-07.JPG|400px|thumb|center|Plant Type: ''Yangya'' <br>Bonsai Style: ''Forest'']]
 
[[File:Bonsai-08.JPG|400px|thumb|center|Plant Type: ''Red Balete'' <br>Bonsai Style: ''On Rock'']]
 
</center>
 
=Bonsai Garden: A Public Art=
==History of Bonsai==
Bonsai first appeared in China over a thousand years ago on a very basic scale, known as pun-sai, where it was the practice of growing single specimen trees in pots. These early specimens displayed sparse foliage and rugged, gnarled trunks which often looked like animals, dragons and birds. There are a great number of myths and legends surrounding Chinese bonsai, and the grotesque or animal-like trunks and root formations are still highly prized today. Chinese bonsai come from the landscape of the imagination and images of fiery dragons and coiled serpents take far greater precedence over images of trees- so the two forms of this art are quite far apart.
 
With Japan's adoption of many cultural trademarks of China - bonsai was also taken up and introduced to Japan by means of Zen Buddhism. The exact time is debatable, although it is possible that it had arrived in AD 1195, as there appears to be a reference to it in a Japanese scroll attributed to that period. Over time, the simple trees were not just confined to the Buddhist monks and their monasteries, but also later were introduced to be representative of the aristocracy - a symbol of prestige and honour. For the Japanese, bonsai represents a fusion of strong ancient beliefs with the Eastern philosophies of the harmony between man, the soul and nature.
 
By the fourteenth century bonsai was indeed viewed as a highly refined art form, meaning that it must have been an established practice many years before that time.
 
Bonsai were brought indoors for display at special times by the 'Japanese elite' and became an important part of Japanese life by being displayed on specially designed shelves. These complex plants were no longer permanently reserved for outdoor display.
 
In the 17th and 18th century, the Japanese arts reached their peak and were regarded very highly. Bonsai again evolved to a much higher understanding and refinement of nature - although the containers used seemed to be slightly deeper than those used today. The main factor in maintaining bonsai was now the removal of all but the most important parts of the plant. The reduction of everything just to the essential elements and ultimate refinement was very symbolic of the Japanese philosophy of this time - shown by the very simple Japanese gardens such as those in the famous temple - Roan-ji.<ref>''The History of Bonsai''. The Bonsai Site. Last accessed on 22 September 2013. ''http://www.bonsaisite.com/history1.html''.</ref>
 
==Principles Behind Bonsai Art==
The art behind bonsai gardens is based on three principles: reduced scale, symbolizations and borrowed view.
 
Bonsai gardens are reduced scales of bigger objects and sceneries found in the environment, such as rivers, mountains, and forests. Bonsai gardens aim to capture nature into a confined and limited space. In the case of the UP Bonsai Garden, you will find various bonsais that mirror bigger objects, such as the forest-style bonsai mentioned previously. <ref>Bulaong, Carmen Bettina (Professor, College of Architecture). Lecture on Japanese Architecture. 17 February 2012. Virtudazo, Maricar. UP Diliman Bonsai Garden breathes new life to a fading art form. From ''http://www.noypi.ph/index.php/featured/5080-up-diliman-bonsai-garden-breathes-new-life-to-a-fading-art-form.html''.</ref>
 
Symbolization works hand in hand with the principle of reduced scale. Through symbolization, small objects such as rocks are small pools of water are used to represent larger scenes or objects such as mountains and lakes. In the UP Bonsai Garden, the same can be found in many of the bonsais. Rocks are piled on top of each other to represent mountains.
 
Borrowed views is the manner in which bonsai gardens are able to represent bigger sceneries through smaller media. Mountains, forests, and rivers can be found within the 5000sqm lot of the UP Bonsai Garden through the different bonsais featured there. Because of this, the UP Bonsai Garden gives the illusion that it is actually bigger than what it truly is. <ref>Pineda, Haidee. UPD's Bonsai Garden. From ''http://www.upd.edu.ph/whatsup/venue.html''.</ref>
 
====Notes & References====
<references/>

Latest revision as of 17:27, 9 October 2013

The UP Bonsai Garden

This article is about the UP Bonsai Garden. To learn more about its founder, Modesto Manglicmot, refer to this article [1].

Overview

The UP Bonsai Garden, also known as Mr. Modesto Manglicmot’s Bonsai Garden, is a 5000-square meter garden filled with bonsai located within the perimeter of the University of the Philippines, Diliman. The entrance to this bonsai garden is located along Delos Reyes Street and is just a 5-minute walk from the UP College of Architecture. (Refer to the attached map)

The UP Bonsai Garden is currently being maintained by Manuel “Manny” Manglicmot, nephew of the late Modesto “Modi” Manglicmot whom the garden was named after.

Manuel Manglicmot
Kuya Manny

Prior to his death, Modesto Manglicmot was the main caretaker of the bonsai garden. He did the landscape design and the cultivated numerous bonsais that eventually became part of the UP Bonsai Garden. He even donated around 175 bonsais from his own private collection to the UP Bonsai Garden as part of a memorandum of agreement between himself and the University of the Philippines, signed on April 4, 2000. Aside from bonsais, the garden also exhibits other species of plants personally cultivated by Modesto Manglicmot, such as palm trees, ferns, and vines. At one point, the number of bonsais housed in the UP Bonsai Garden reached 400. They were there for the public’s appreciation. The garden was open to the public any time of the day and the entrance was free.

Modesto Manglicmot’s bonsais were really spectacular and were sought after by many collectors. Although large amounts of money, even reaching millions, were offered to purchase his bonsais, they have never been for sale. Modesto Manglicmot were attached to his bonsais and never once thought of selling them. Instead of selling his bonsais, he prefers giving them as gifts to his closest friends or donating them for fund raising event.

Nowadays, around 200 bonsais remain in the UP Bonsai Garden. Many of Modesto Manglicmot’s bonsais either died or were taken away by his wife after his death in 2012. Only a few of his award winning bonsais remain in the grounds of the UP Bonsai Garden.

History

Modesto Manglicmot’s Bonsai Garden was not initially located in the University of the Philippines. In the 1970s, his bonsais were initially displayed at his home in Project 8, Quezon City and in the greenhouse in Jose Abad Santos Memorial School (JASMS) where he used to teach. In 1985, Meralco, the electric power distributor in Metro Manila, lent him a piece of land in Marikina City under a contract. Upon the contract’s expiration in 1990, Modesto Manglicmot moved his bonsais to the Manila Seedling Bank Garden in Quezon City. His bonsais were displayed there for almost ten years until the University of the Philippines, under the administration of President Emil Q. Javier, offered him a piece of land within the campus which he could develop into his own bonsai garden. Part of the April 4, 2000 memorandum of agreement between himself and the university is his donation of almost 175 bonsais from his own personal collection to this garden, and that all the bonsais to be grown in the bonsai garden shall be property of the university. Over the years, Mr. Manglicmot was able to grow hundreds of bonsais in this garden. At one point, the number of bonsais in the garden reached 400.

To help maintain the UP Bonsai Garden, Mr. Manglicmot employed the help his nephews Rupino “Rappy” and Manuel “Manny” Manglicmot, and another caretaker named Danny.

Since the opening of the UP Bonsai Garden, Mr. Manglicmot has been offering Saturday Bonsai Classes for free to any one interested in learning how to grow and care for bonsais. The garden was also open to anyone who wants to appreciate the beauty of bonsais. Mr. Manglicmot did not charge an entrance fee. Events such as weddings, small parties, and book launches have also been held in the garden for a small fee, that it’s practically free.

On April 3, 2012, Modesto Manglicmot passed away. Since then, the management of the UP Bonsai Garden was fully transferred to the University of the Philippines. The university passed stricter rules and regulations regarding the use of the UP Bonsai Garden. Nowadays, in order to enter the garden, people must first secure an authorization from the UP Business Concessions Office. New rates have also been released for the rental of the different venues in the UP Bonsai Garden. Aside from these, the garden itself has also changed. The number of bonsais has been reduced to around 200 since some died and many were taken away by Mr. Manglicmot’s wife.[1]

Usage & Rental

Wedding at the UP Bonsai Garden

The UP Bonsai Garden can be rented for events such as book launches, weddings, debuts and other parties. The areas in the Bonsai Garden that can be rented are the following:

  • Main Garden – P10,000
  • Cogon Hall (small pavilion near the entrance) – P7,000
  • Kakawati Hall (big pavilion) – P15,000
  • Greenhouse – P15,000

The above rates are for the first 5 hours. For every succeeding hour, P1000 shall be added to the total rental fee. [2]

The following are the steps in booking the UP Bonsai Garden:

  1. Get a form from the UP Business Concessions Office (BCO), near College of Fine Arts.
  2. Fill it out and have it signed by the caretaker. (3 copies all in all – one for person renting, one for caretaker, another for the BCO).
  3. Pay rental about a week before the event at the cashier’s office located in the shopping center. Return receipt to the Business Office.

Bonsai Collection

As previously mentioned, the UP Bonsai Garden hosts a variety of plant species turned into bonsais, most of which are species endemic to the Philippines. The following are some of the bonsais housed in the UP Bonsai Garden:

Plant Type: Red Balete
Bonsai Style: Informal upright, exposed roots
Name: Saddam
Plant Type: Kalyos
Bonsai Style: Broom
Name: Lollipop
Plant Type: Red Balete
Bonsai Style: Slanted
Plant Type: Red Balete
Bonsai Style: Multi-trunk, Exposed Roots
Plant Type: Kamagong
Bonsai Style: Informal Upright, Multi-Trunk
Name: Saddam
Plant Type: Yangya
Bonsai Style: Slanted
Note: Yangya tree is also known as Aquino tree
Plant Type: Yangya
Bonsai Style: Forest
Plant Type: Red Balete
Bonsai Style: On Rock

Bonsai Garden: A Public Art

History of Bonsai

Bonsai first appeared in China over a thousand years ago on a very basic scale, known as pun-sai, where it was the practice of growing single specimen trees in pots. These early specimens displayed sparse foliage and rugged, gnarled trunks which often looked like animals, dragons and birds. There are a great number of myths and legends surrounding Chinese bonsai, and the grotesque or animal-like trunks and root formations are still highly prized today. Chinese bonsai come from the landscape of the imagination and images of fiery dragons and coiled serpents take far greater precedence over images of trees- so the two forms of this art are quite far apart.

With Japan's adoption of many cultural trademarks of China - bonsai was also taken up and introduced to Japan by means of Zen Buddhism. The exact time is debatable, although it is possible that it had arrived in AD 1195, as there appears to be a reference to it in a Japanese scroll attributed to that period. Over time, the simple trees were not just confined to the Buddhist monks and their monasteries, but also later were introduced to be representative of the aristocracy - a symbol of prestige and honour. For the Japanese, bonsai represents a fusion of strong ancient beliefs with the Eastern philosophies of the harmony between man, the soul and nature.

By the fourteenth century bonsai was indeed viewed as a highly refined art form, meaning that it must have been an established practice many years before that time.

Bonsai were brought indoors for display at special times by the 'Japanese elite' and became an important part of Japanese life by being displayed on specially designed shelves. These complex plants were no longer permanently reserved for outdoor display.

In the 17th and 18th century, the Japanese arts reached their peak and were regarded very highly. Bonsai again evolved to a much higher understanding and refinement of nature - although the containers used seemed to be slightly deeper than those used today. The main factor in maintaining bonsai was now the removal of all but the most important parts of the plant. The reduction of everything just to the essential elements and ultimate refinement was very symbolic of the Japanese philosophy of this time - shown by the very simple Japanese gardens such as those in the famous temple - Roan-ji.[3]

Principles Behind Bonsai Art

The art behind bonsai gardens is based on three principles: reduced scale, symbolizations and borrowed view.

Bonsai gardens are reduced scales of bigger objects and sceneries found in the environment, such as rivers, mountains, and forests. Bonsai gardens aim to capture nature into a confined and limited space. In the case of the UP Bonsai Garden, you will find various bonsais that mirror bigger objects, such as the forest-style bonsai mentioned previously. [4]

Symbolization works hand in hand with the principle of reduced scale. Through symbolization, small objects such as rocks are small pools of water are used to represent larger scenes or objects such as mountains and lakes. In the UP Bonsai Garden, the same can be found in many of the bonsais. Rocks are piled on top of each other to represent mountains.

Borrowed views is the manner in which bonsai gardens are able to represent bigger sceneries through smaller media. Mountains, forests, and rivers can be found within the 5000sqm lot of the UP Bonsai Garden through the different bonsais featured there. Because of this, the UP Bonsai Garden gives the illusion that it is actually bigger than what it truly is. [5]

Notes & References

  1. ↑ From the interview with Manuel Manglicmot. Conducted by Gail Gorospe and Eduardo Puyat. 23 September 2013.
  2. ↑ Rental rates as of October 2013, as stipulated by the University of the Philippines Business Concessions Office
  3. ↑ The History of Bonsai. The Bonsai Site. Last accessed on 22 September 2013. http://www.bonsaisite.com/history1.html.
  4. ↑ Bulaong, Carmen Bettina (Professor, College of Architecture). Lecture on Japanese Architecture. 17 February 2012. Virtudazo, Maricar. UP Diliman Bonsai Garden breathes new life to a fading art form. From http://www.noypi.ph/index.php/featured/5080-up-diliman-bonsai-garden-breathes-new-life-to-a-fading-art-form.html.
  5. ↑ Pineda, Haidee. UPD's Bonsai Garden. From http://www.upd.edu.ph/whatsup/venue.html.
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