Pun-sai

The Chinese word "pun-sai" means scenery or landscape in a pot. It is the original term for the art of growing miniature trees in containers, which was practiced by the Chinese elite since 700 CE. The Japanese learned this technique from the Chinese monks and called it "bonsai", which means tree in a pot. Bonsai trees are intended to be a miniature representation of nature, planted within decorative containers.