do you have any thoughts on ukitake's bonsai?
It’s interesting because I consider Ukitake’s bonsai hobby to be one of the Facts that I know about him, and yet I don’t think all that much time is actually spent showing him doing it. As far as I can tell, there’s the comic in Colorful Bleach (and anime omake based off of it) and then this Bleach 4Koma, and that’s it?
[Colorful Bleach] [Episode 162]
I know it’s mostly played as an old man joke, but since Ukitake isn’t particularly good at bonsai, it made me wonder what he’s getting out of it and how long he’s been practicing.
According to the wikipedia entry, the purposes of bonsai are primarily contemplation for the viewer, and the pleasant exercise of effort and ingenuity for the grower. Bonsai practices have been in Japan for a long time, originating in the Tang Dynasty (6th century) in China. Interestingly though, the practice of bonsai didn’t become popular among the general public until the early 1800s (before then it was only done by specialists). Additionally, the term “bonsai” wasn’t really widely used until the end of the 1800s. Given these things, I feel like this might be a relatively “new” hobby for Ukitake? Which would explain why he’s not all that “good” at it.
So what makes a “good” bonsai in the first place? Many Japanese cultural characteristics, in particular the influence of Zen Buddhism and the expression of Wabi-sabi, inform the bonsai tradition in Japan. The main elements of bonsai are:
Miniaturization: By definition, a bonsai is a tree kept small enough to be container-grown while otherwise fostered to have a mature appearance.
Proportion among elements: The most prized proportions mimic those of a full-grown tree as closely as possible. Small trees with large leaves or needles are out of proportion and are avoided, as is a thin trunk with thick branches.
Asymmetry: Bonsai aesthetics discourage strict radial or bilateral symmetry in branch and root placement.
No trace of the artist: The designer's touch must not be apparent to the viewer. If a branch is removed in shaping the tree, the scar will be concealed. Likewise, wiring should be removed or at least concealed when the bonsai is shown, and must leave no permanent marks on the branch or bark.
Poignancy: Many of the formal rules of bonsai help the grower create a tree that expresses Wabi-sabi, or portrays an aspect of mono no aware.
I think Ukitake fails at “no trace of the artist” since LOL he tends to be rather liberal with his pruning. But I think his bonsai approach definitely expresses wabi-sabi, with a special emphasis on the transience and imperfection of his bonsai. I’m guessing he probably enjoys keeping bonsai but never gets very far with them, despite being long lived himself. In addition to having a poor eye, it probably doesn’t help that bonsai require extremely meticulous upkeep, and since he’s sick for long periods of time, his bonsai likely keep dying or losing their shape. Maybe the reason why he gets so overzealous with his pruning is because he doesn’t often have the energy to upkeep them. So he figures if he goes for a big cut (if infrequently), it means he won’t have to do little trims as often.
Knowing about Ukitake’s ongoing struggles with his bonsai, at some point someone brings him back a Lego bonsai set from the living world and he is extremely enamored with it, because he can shape it however he wants, it doesn’t require any watering or sunlight, and he can enjoy it in all seasons.
But wait… what's that aura????
"Ukitake-taichou, I feel… watched…"
Big thank you to @the-kings-tail-fin for being a very good sport!! The flowers are *frogs*--think about how cursed that is. A whole tree adorned with over a hundred pink frogs...
