Bujin? Yes or no

Do you think this could be called a bunjin style tree?

武人 Bujin (Warrior or Martial Artist)...definitely not. Not being smart alecky, just a typo in your title...I know it should be 文人 Bunjin

i think no bunjin

It is a very nice tree as it stands. The definite "Y" shape is a bit awkward, though. It might be alleviated if you could change the front, or planting angle, or shorten the smaller branch quite a bit. There seems to be a bit too much tree to make a good bunjin.

Or, there are these two -- very obvious -- alternatives, which I'm sure you've considered:

here's a bunjin style juniper from the Ken Wassum display at the weyerhaueser Pacific rim bonsai display. Photo taken yesterday
at the opening.

the tell tale distinction is the uniformity of the trunk taper from base to tip.

JimLewis wrote:It is a very nice tree as it stands.  The definite "Y" shape is a bit awkward, though.  It might be alleviated if you could change the front, or planting angle, or shorten the smaller branch quite a bit.  There seems to be a bit too much tree to make a good bunjin.  

Or, there are these two -- very obvious -- alternatives, which I'm sure you've considered:

The front is slightly off which is easily changed at the next transplanting . No way would I consider removing one of these trunks.

dick benbow wrote:


here's a bunjin style juniper from the Ken Wassum display at the weyerhaueser Pacific rim bonsai display. Photo taken yesterday
at the opening.

the tell tale distinction is the uniformity of the trunk taper from base to tip.

So are you saying there can be no trunk taper in a bunjin?

Perhaps we should read this article by John Naka before we continue. http://www.bssf.org/articles-and-stories/john-naka-on-bunjin-gi-bunjin-style/

The front is slightly off which is easily changed at the next transplanting . No way would I consider removing one of these trunks.

I understand, though I have a VERY difficult time considering them both to be "trunks" when they split off so high on the tree.

So, the (or at least MY) answer to your question "bunjin?" is "probably not. Very nice bonsai though.

Who cares what you call it! It's a pretty tree!!!!!!

Randy_Davis wrote:Who cares what you call it!  It's a pretty tree!!!!!!

Thanks.

Imo. it would be s shame to make it a one trunk Bunjin. Right now it is a pretty tree. I would not get too hung up on styles, if it should or shouldn't.........

You could change the front a little so the secondary trunk is in front of the larger one. Or shorten the small trunk slightly and point the tip of the larger back towards the smaller trunk this way you get a bit more dynamic balance.

Or a very drastic approach would be to split the deadwood to create a true twin trunk................... 

I always stress to my students that they have to be happy about their tree, they have to look at it every day. If you enjoy looking at it every day all day then that is all that is needed.

both are No ..........one has too many branches and one has way to much foliage so it may have been a bunjin once upon a time but it needs re styling now to become one again. I think subtle taper adds to the quality of the finished tree though- just sticking a sparse leggy tree in a shallow pot does not make it literati by any means

Bunjin? ....no. Feminine informal upright? ....yes ( imho, even with the deadwood trunk, this is a feminine tree). Great tree no matter what you call it.

Bob-
In my opinion this tree looks like a bonsai with two bunjin branches. If it were mine I would split the tree down the center to make two trees. Both would be much more interesting apart. As it is now the branches are too competitive.
-PT

prestontolbert wrote:Bob-
  In my opinion this tree looks like a bonsai with two bunjin branches.  If it were mine I would split the tree down the center to make two trees.  Both would be much more interesting apart.  As it is now the branches are too competitive.
-PT

I considered that several years ago but discarded that idea. I feel that would just give me two inferior trees.
Probably not a bunjin but certainly not a typical bonsai.

Is that a rocky mountain juniper or a one-seed or what?

California juniper

Cool. I have a one-seed that has very similar foliage.

sounds like the wisdom of Solomon...split that baby in two!