Bonsai is one of China’s traditional art forms. It is not merely a decorative art but also an art of appreciation—a unique art that uses plants and rocks as its primary materials to showcase the beauty of natural landscapes. Bonsai first appeared in China during the Sui and Tang dynasties.
       In China, the history of bonsai is long and profound. The art of miniature landscapes that capture the essence of nature can be traced back to ancient times, whereas the history of jade bonsai is far shorter by comparison. The creation of jade bonsai was constrained by the level of productive forces prevailing at the time. Yet, the history of jade carving—evolving from the crafting of stone tools in primitive societies—is much longer still. In other words, jade bonsai emerged only after both the techniques of potted plants and the art of condensed natural landscapes had already reached a high degree of sophistication, and after jade-working craftsmanship had attained a state of near-perfection. Moreover, the development of Chinese painting—particularly the meticulous and freehand styles—took artistic expression to remarkable heights. Techniques such as solid filling, line drawing, color application, layering, blending, and glazing became increasingly diverse, while golden ratio-based compositional frameworks proliferated. All these factors directly and succinctly laid the groundwork for the emergence of jade bonsai. Historical records tell us that Tao Yuanming, a renowned poet of the Jin Dynasty, once cultivated flowers in pots. In the tomb murals of Prince Zhanghuai from the Tang Dynasty, we can see maids carrying small potted trees laden with fruit, clearly indicating that bonsai were already popular during the Tang period. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, bonsai were referred to as "xiezi jing"—literally meaning "small scenic views." From the early Qing dynasty onward, bonsai cultivation reached its zenith, and many poets composed poems celebrating them. In the Qing imperial court, a new type of lifelike bonsai emerged: crafted entirely by hand using various precious materials to imitate natural landscapes. Such works placed greater emphasis on the value of the materials themselves and the symbolic meanings embedded in their themes. “Emerald cliffs and red wooden walkways rise in uneven splendor; the tiny pot’s first journey reveals the most extraordinary scene. Who could have captured it so vividly? Li Jiangjun’s brush brings forth Du Fu’s poetry!” This is a verse from Lu You’s poem “Remembering the Past,” written during the Southern Song dynasty. In this poem, what evoked deep nostalgia for Lu You was precisely “emerald cliffs and red wooden walkways rising in uneven splendor”—the lush, verdant pine and cypress pathways clinging to steep cliffs, a concentrated masterpiece of natural beauty, exactly what we now call “bonsai.”