Bill Valavanis Teaches Literati Bonsai in Toronto

by David Johnson

Bill Valavanis delighted members and guests of the Toronto Bonsai Society to a full house on a return visit to Toronto on November 13th. Bill's presentation topic was literati bonsai. After the presentation, Bill critiqued members' literati bonsai which helped to illustrate the subject material by example.

Bill talked about the historical origins of this style in China among a layer of intellectuals in the 1600's taking the form of paintings. There were two distinct schools from northern and southern China. This appreciation of old, natural trees in paintings found their way to Japan which gave it a new interpretation in the medium of living, styled containerized trees - bonsai. Bill said that in literati bonsai, the trunk is the most important. The tree has a taller look with a more gradual taper than found in other bonsai forms. There is also an accompanying lightness to the foliage mass in keeping with the lighter trunk mass.

There are two forms of literati based on trunk line. Single direction tends to go in one direction only and compound direction goes in one direction and then turns back towards its origin.

Bill classified literati bonsai using many of the conventional criteria such as trunk line, number of trunks, tree size, planting position (on a rock, cascade). Other criteria were more unique for the literati style such as less structured branch placement and the feeling generated by literati's light gracefulness.

Bill talked about asymmetrical balanced branch design. Branches need to be thinned out to develop refinement. Good rootage and trunk taper also raise the quality of the tree. For selecting containers, Bill felt that small pots emphasize a tall and narrow tree using round or square containers. For tree training, Bill recommended a smaller than usual pot, less fertilizer, pruning more frequently and selecting trees that bud back well.

For the critique, members brought a wide range of over twenty trees to the meeting. Most tended to be conifers. There was a mix of collected trees and nursery stock. Many of Bill's comments focused on various improvements that he felt could be made. The suggestions included corrections to bar branches; air layering further up a long trunk; carving out an unattractive dead area and scoring the living edge to encourage quicker healing; changing the front and the angle the tree is planted in the container; more branch refinement; placing part or most of the live vein in the front; cleaning the deadwood area with soap and vinegar; avoiding the separation of the live vein from the deadwood by having the live area wrap partially around the trunk; guy-wiring branches down thus avoid wiring old fragile bark areas; developing back branches and opening up the branching.

Bill noted that Austrian pine (pinus nigra) are difficult to develop compact branching so a larger tree would be an easier solution. In order to develop short needles, Bill recommended using less water and fertilizer and pinching more. In spite of a large number of trees, Bill was able to talk about all of them in a detailed and timely manner. Participants left the meeting with a greater understanding and appreciation of this challenging bonsai style.

Thanks Bill.