bonsai pots 盆栽陶

Bonsai pots play a critical role in both the aesthetic appeal and the well-being of a bonsai tree. A fundamental aspect of the art of Bonsai lies in observing a tree that has been uprooted from its natural environment and now thrives within a container.

The term "Bonsai" (pronounced as "bone-zi") directly translates to "planted in a container," underscoring the vital link between pottery and Bonsai.

Analogous to how a frame enhances a painting, the bonsai pot serves to frame the tree, complementing its features and fostering a harmonious overall appearance without overshadowing the tree itself. However, it appears that the significance of pottery in the realm of Bonsai has been somewhat overlooked by many Western bonsai enthusiasts, possibly due to the higher costs associated with premium-quality bonsai pots. Furthermore, identifying a bonsai pot that truly complements a specific tree can pose a considerable challenge.

bonsai pot collections

  • wheel thrown

    rokuro-mawashi de tsukurareta bonsai hachi (ろくろ回しで作られた盆栽鉢)

    collection 

  • slab built

    suraabu de tsumerareta bonsai hachi (スラーブで積まれた盆栽鉢)

    collection 

  • handshaped with a form

    kataoshi de tsukurareta bonsai hachi (型押しで作られた盆栽鉢)

    collection 

  • handshaped

    tezukuri de tate-namashita bonsai hachi (手作りで手捏ねした盆栽鉢)

    collection 

  • carved

    kurinuki bonsai hachi (くりぬき盆栽鉢)

    collection 

choosing the right bonsai pot

Basic Guidelines Design

The design of a bonsai pot should ideally align with the perceived masculinity or femininity of the tree. Striving for a harmonious match between the pot's design and the tree's characteristics enhances the overall aesthetics of the bonsai. Typically, masculine pots exhibit traits such as depth, angularity, clean lines, and robust feet. A rim with a lip accentuates masculinity, while an inward curvature conveys femininity. In contrast, feminine pots tend to feature softer lines, delicate feet, a lower profile, and a sleek appearance. Round or drum pots are often viewed as androgynous in nature, exhibiting characteristics that are neither distinctly masculine nor feminine. Matching the design of the pot to the gender-specific traits of the tree contributes to the cohesion and visual impact of the final bonsai composition.

Selecting an appropriate glaze for a bonsai pot is crucial, with a primary guideline being to choose a color that resonates with elements present in the tree, such as the bark, leaves, fruit, or flowers. Typically, earthy tones like unglazed browns, grays, and natural hues are considered safe choices as they harmonize well with bonsai and exude warmth, offering a sense of stability to the overall presentation. However, incorporating contrasting colors such as blues or cool greens can also be effective. Contrasting colors not only add visual interest but also provide balance and rejuvenate the composition, injecting a fresh perspective and vibrancy into the bonsai arrangement. The key is to strike a harmonious balance between the pot's glaze color and the tree's features to create a visually compelling and cohesive bonsai display.

Masculine or feminine

Determining whether your bonsai tree leans more towards a masculine or feminine aesthetic is a fundamental step in selecting an appropriate pot. Trees typically exhibit a blend of both masculine and feminine characteristics, with one gender being dominant. This assessment is pivotal and forms the basis for choosing a suitable pot. To aid in this decision, certain attributes can serve as indicators.
Feminine traits in a tree are often characterized by curves, gracefulness, smooth bark, and sparsely distributed branches. These features evoke a sense of delicacy and elegance. In contrast, masculine trees exude strength, display old bark, showcase deadwood, possess thick trunks, and have dense branching patterns, conveying a more robust and rugged appearance.
By recognizing and understanding the predominant gender traits of your tree, you can make informed decisions when selecting a pot that complements and enhances these characteristics, fostering a harmonious and visually appealing bonsai composition.

Size

A general rule of thumb in bonsai design is to select a pot that complements the proportions of the tree. There are two key guidelines to consider:
1. **Height of the Pot:** The height of the pot should ideally match the width of the trunk above the surface roots, known as Nebari. This helps maintain visual balance and harmony between the tree and its container. Aligning the pot height with the trunk width above the Nebari contributes to a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing composition.
2. **Length of the Pot:** The length of the pot should typically fall within the range of 1/3 to 2/3 of the height of your bonsai tree. This proportion helps establish a visually pleasing relationship between the tree and the pot. Selecting a pot length that corresponds to this guideline enhances the overall visual appeal of the bonsai arrangement.
By adhering to these guidelines and ensuring that the pot's dimensions harmonize with the tree's proportions, you can create a balanced and visually striking bonsai display that highlights the natural beauty and elegance of the tree.

When it comes to rectangular or oval bonsai containers, a specific guideline involves the proportion between the pot's length and the bonsai tree's height. For these particular pot shapes:
- The pot's length should ideally be equal to about 2/3 of the height of the bonsai tree. This ratio helps create a visually balanced and harmonious composition, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the bonsai display.
By adhering to this guideline for rectangular or oval containers, you can ensure that the proportions between the pot and the bonsai tree are well-coordinated, resulting in a visually pleasing and well-balanced presentation.

In the case of round-shaped pots, a specific guideline pertains to the proportion between the pot's diameter and the height of the bonsai tree. For round pots:
- The diameter of the pot is ideally equivalent to around 1/3 of the height of the bonsai tree. This ratio is aimed at creating a visually appealing and well-proportioned bonsai composition when using round containers.
By following this guideline for round pots, where the pot's diameter is set at approximately 1/3 of the bonsai tree's height, you can ensure that the relationship between the pot and the tree maintains balance and harmony, contributing to an aesthetically pleasing presentation of the bonsai.

Fingertip

Keshitsubo (height: 3 - 8 cm)

  • Recommended length in rectangle / oval 2 - 5.4 cm
  • Recommended diameter in round 1.02 - 8 cm

Shito (height: 5 - 10 cm)

  • Recommended length in rectangle / oval: 3.4 - 6.7 cm
  • Recommended diameter in round: 1.7 - 10 cm

One-handed

Mame (height: 5 - 15 cm)

  • Recommended length in rectangle / oval: 3.4 - 10.1 cm
  • Recommended diameter in round: 1.7 - 15 cm

Shohin (height: 12 - 20 cm)

  • Recommended length in rectangle / oval: 8 - 13.4
  • Recommended diameter in round: 4.1 - 20 cm

Komono (height: 15 - 25 cm)

  • Recommended length in rectangle / oval: 10.1 - 16.8 cm
  • Recommended diameter in round: 5.1 - 25 cm

Katade-mochi (height: 25 - 46 cm)

  • Recommended length in rectangle / oval: 16.8 - 30.8 cm
  • Recommended diameter in round: 8.5 - 46 cm

Two-handed

Chui/Chunono (height: 41 - 91 cm)

  • Recommended length in rectangle / oval: 27.5 - 61 cm
  • Recommended diameter in round : 13.9 - 91 cm

Four-handed

Dai/Omono (height: 75 - 122 cm)

  • Recommended diameter in round: 25.5 - 122 cm

Six-handed

Hachi-uye( height: 102 - 152 cm)

  • Recommended diameter in round: 34.7 - 152 cm

Eight-handed

Imperial (height: 152 - 203 cm)

  • Recommended diameter in round: 51.7 - 203 cm