Penjing

The Chinese word "Penjing" means "landscape in a pot" and it is an ancient art form of creating miniature scenes with living plants, rocks, water and other elements. Penjing is also known by the name "Penzai", which means "planted in a container". Penjing is considered the origin of bonsai, which is the Japanese version of this art form. Bonsai focuses more on the shape and beauty of individual trees, while penjing emphasizes the harmony and balance of the whole landscape. Penjing has three main styles: Shumu (tree penjing), Shanshui (rock and water penjing) and Shuihan (water and land penjing). Each style has its own characteristics and techniques to create realistic and artistic representations of nature.