Literati Style Penjing: Chinese Bonsai Masterworks

This is a great overview and introduction to Literati style penjing (or dare I say bunjin style bonsai as well). Regardless of your affinity towards Chinese penjing or Japanese bonsai, this book is a good one to have in your library. It covers a wide range of topics from the historical origin and nature of the literati school of aesthetic, to providing a very good and basic introduction to tree styling, care, and presentation. It provides a fair amount of background combined with lots of photos and then provides several series of technical progressions of nursery stock to formal penjing. I did not expect this to be a suitable book for bonsai or penjing beginners, but it very much is. That said, it is also a nice book for people who have years of experience applying the arts of bonsai and penjing. There are lots of different styles of trees pictured, and for those who have some bonsai training, it is interesting to see the results of choices many artists are trained to avoid (for example an arrow straight trunk with wildly curving branches). The writing is very accessible and overall the translation is excellent. Regarding the translation; the term "aloof" is used quite frequently in describing literati trees. Initially that seemed like an odd choice to me as an American English speaker, but it really is the best word for describing a tree that is typically solitary, isolated, unique, distant, and remote.

I didn’t learn allot from the book, there were a few tips that I found useful. More than anything this book is a very comprehensive guide on style. I enjoyed it and plan to hold onto the book

Simply the best book on literati bonsai available right now (summer 2019). Master Qingquan makes his case for literati as an often misunderstood and ultimately superior style with gorgeous photos of fine trees and expert analysis and articulation of aesthetic concepts and qualities to aim for.

If you want to understand the literati style of bonsai & penjing, GET THIS BOOK. I've purchased a copy for myself and several copies for friends. As a professional, I've been around literati for many years, Brook would get six stars for this book if I could give him another star. Both hobbyists and professionals alike - anyone I've shown this book to or purchased it for has agreed that this is _the_ definitive book on literati. From completely newbies to people with more than 40 years of experience, there's something for everyone to get from this book. As your skills progress, more of the book becomes applicable to you. Don't bother to hesitate putting this book into your cart and purchasing it.

Great book for history, reference and understanding of Literati Bonsai.

This is an excellent and much awaited book on one of the most difficult "schools" of bonsai. Literati, to bonsai enthusiasts, can be challenging because of the fact that it breaks most of the rules of bonsai, because of this fact, it is also one of the most difficult forms of bonsai to accomplish correctly, or more appropriately, in a manner which is pleasing and befitting of the entire "literati culture", a subject matter that goes beyond bonsai and is an extremely interesting facet in Asian studies. I've always been attracted to the entire world of bonsai, but literati in particular. This is a "must have" book for any bonsai enthusiast!

Absolutely beautiful photography as well as spectacular trees. Worth buying for styling ideas or an coffee table book.

Book is fantastic- well illustrated and concise. Order arrived on time and we’ll packed.Great purchase