National Library News November 1998 Vol. 30, no. 11

Savoir Faire: The History of Japanese Gardens and Bonsai

by Norma Gauld,
Research and Information Services Division

The August Savoir Faire seminar offered a different perspective on a subject related to the National Library's current major exhibition, "Cultivating Canadian Gardens: The History of Gardening in Canada". Ottawa researcher and bibliographer David Boll spoke on "The History of Japanese Gardens and Bonsai".

Mr. Boll is completing research on a bibliography of Japanese gardens and bonsai, which is to be published by Timber Press in the United States. In the course of his research, he has consulted the National Library's reference services and collections extensively.

He began his talk by showing living samples of bonsai, such as a red-tipped Japanese blood grass. He next listed some of the best resources in various categories for anyone wanting to pursue research on this topic: Canadian library resources, research journals (published in English), associations and Japanese magazines. He said that in his own research, he has often found the most interesting material in books on related subjects, rather than those strictly about bonsai and Japanese gardens.

With the aid of overheads, he introduced the audience to the terminology of the field, e.g., "bonsai" means "dwarf trees". Displaying coloured illustrations from many books and periodicals, he illustrated some of the 12 different bonsai styles, Japanese lanterns, Japanese pots, Japanese garden-stone placement rules for paths and the tea ceremony. For example, if the barrier stone at the entrance to a garden has a rope across it, this signifies that the garden is not yet ready to receive guests. The strict "old school" rules originated in the 12th century and were kept secret for a long time.

David Boll illustrated his talk with a slide presentation of a selection of his personal photographs, and concluded with a reading from an article he had written. Both enhanced the audience's understanding of the aesthetics and philosophy of Japanese gardens and bonsai. Members of the Ottawa Bonsai Society and members of the public joined National Library staff and researchers at the seminar.