This style is modeled after trees that grow over water or down the side of a mountain. Hiding within the crevices of the mountain side allow for many pad layers to develop as the tree keeps growing and reaching for space and light. This is one style that is overly used when trying to style a tree, when in doubt people try to make it into a cascade, but the opposite should be taught. In Japan and around the world high quality Cascading trees are very rare, as it is very hard to create an attractive balanced composition with a tree that moves out, away, and downward from the pot.
Advantages of Kengai
Include images of art that are very beautiful. We love to see a flowing image with movement that seems it came right off the side of the mountain into a bonsai pot. It allows us to incorporate the idea of a harsh landscape, a struggle to survive, and power to hold to its position. Cascade style allows us to open our imagination and pull fun interesting characteristics from the materiel.
Disadvantages of Kengai
Is that it can look very sloppy. We want downward facing branching with upward facing foliage. The idea of creating pads is very important but it must be balanced with the composition. Keeping rules of slanting and windswept in mind, we want implied line in cascading trees, pick a side of the pot to create the image.
- Japanese White Pine (Pinus parviflora)
- Black Pine (Pinus nigra)
- Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
- Juniper (Juniperus sp.)
- Spruce (Picea sp.)
- Ficus sp
- Olive (Olea sp.)
- Conifers
- Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
- Wisteria sp.
- Oak (Quercus sp.)
I am enjoying this series of informative articles. Please keep them coming.
Mark,
We have many more in the works and hopefully many more like this in the future.