Sho
The Japanese term "Sho" means "individual differences" in the context of bonsai. It refers to the variations or deviations among individual species with regard to their general appearance. The term is often applied to bonsai where it represents the individual characteristics of particular tree species. Examples of its use in depicting trees include ''good nature,'' ''the character of leaves,'' and ''the nature of the bark,'' among others. The expressions may be used for those which are fixed in their characteristics..