Introduction
One of my favorite bonsai styles in the Moyogi styled bonsai tree. This style is a variation of the informal upright bonsai style. Before we go further, I want to clear up something. The character, Mr. Miyagi played by Pat Morita in The Karate Kid (1984), maker of bonsai trees, last name is virtually the same as Moyogi style, with the o-vowel changed. I don’t think this was by accident.
Since the aesthetic elements needed for a good Moyogi style bonsai tree are essentiallythe same as those of the Chokkan or formalupright. The selected tree should have a good taper from top to bottom. Thetrunk should be centered on the root ball, andit should lack areas of no surface roots. Also, the branches on the selectedtree should be asymmetrical and disturbed along the trunk. Branches ondifferent sides of the trunk should not begin at the same elevation. This willbe critical as we will discuss later because branches should not extend fromthe inside of the curve.
One of the overarching goals of bonsai design is to create atree that shows the effect that nature has thrust upon it. The Moyogi style that shows a plant thatwould have grown straight and tall except for the natural forces of placement,sun, wind, and precipitation as rain, snow, or ice, over many years.
Once an appropriate tree is selected, it will basically bebent into the shape of an “S.” Everywhere there is a bend, at least one branchshould extend from the outside. However, this would create a tree that isroughly in a single plain. Therefore, the “S” should be bent forward, and backwardare various points along the route. The tip of the tree should face the viewerand be roughly aligned with the place where thebase of the trunk enters the soil.
When bent correctly, the Moyogistyle bonsai tree will have elegant lines, andthe flow of the tree will be beautiful and natural. Moyogi is one of the most popular and common styles in bonsai. Alarge variety of plant species, including Pinus, Acer, Juniperus, and Conifers,are suitable for this style. Since so many species work with this style, it iseasy to find good working stock at a local nursery.
Styling
Once you have selected your tree and ready to being style,first make sure the tree is securely wired into the pot, so you don’t damage the roots. You can do thebending without wiring the plant in, butyou will need an assistant to hold the tree in place while you work.
Next, take strips of raffia that have been soaked in water. Begin wrapping your tree from the bottomof the trunk to near the top. At this point leave the branches unwrapped. Tiethe raffia in a, not at the top. Usingappropriately sized wire, beginning wiring from the base of the trunk upward.The first few inches of the wire should be pushed into the soil before youstart wrapping. Since this wire will be on the tree for a long period of time,I recommend that you wrap the wire somewhat loosely. You can also slide thewire into aquarium air supply tubing to prevent damage as a result of the treegrowing into contact with the wire. At this point, many people wrap the truck,raffia, and wire with lightly glued electrical tape. This is not reallynecessary unless the trunk is extremely large. Once the tree is wired with evenwraps, it is time to bend the tree.
The old bonsai joke is you bend the tree until just beforeit snaps. Of course, you have no way ofknowing when it will snap other than through experience. The raffia will helpthe sap continue to flow if small breaks occur. As you slowly bend your tree,remember to focus on bending the wire and don’t try to bend the wood. Severalsmaller bends are preferable (and safer) to one large bend. Carefully bend thetrunk into an “S” shape working from bottom to top. The bend should begin aslow as possible on the tree and ideally should be bending as it emerges fromthe soil. Remember to bend forward and backwardas well. If possible, a nice effect can be created by adding a twist to thetrunk at the time of bending.
This is a good time to remove any branches that emanate from the inside of a curve. If there are extra branches are in other locations and need to be removed, look for opportunities to create a jin feature. A jin is a broken branch that is left on the tree to show natural forces and give the illusion of great age in the tree.
The finished tree should have dense foliage in the shape ofan isosceles triangle should be left at the apex of the tree. There should notbe any bulges or humps along the trunk, andthe taper should be easily visible. Each branch should have a nicely ramifiedpad of leaves at the end. The largestside branch should be lowest, and theyshould decrease in size until the smallest branch is at the top.
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