I am only a third of the way through this book and it seems that the use
of Zen may in fact be a tact aimed at increasing sales or an approach that
the author thought might distinquish his book from the myriad Bonsai titles
available.

However, I think that the review may have been less critical if the book
did not have the word Zen in its title. I sense a bit of a prediposition to
doubt about whether anyone could truly "Combine the power of Zen and nature"
in an informative bonsai text and perhaps this prediposition caused the
reviewer to read with an overly critical eye.

There are some fantastic pictures and drawings in this book. And from
what I have read so far, I think where the author has succeeded in part is
in evoking a sense of what moves him with respect to the art. So many Bonsai
related texts, and even the lectures and demonstrations that we all attend,
are focused on the hows and whys. So few touch upon what really moves us
individually.

For me, bonsai is not just about beauty and horticulture. From the first
bonsai I saw, there was something about these trees that touched my spirit.
And when I work with my trees, I am often filled with a sense of being that
is outside my everyday life. Its not just a communion with nature. Its
something more that I cannot readily communicate.

So while the Zen tact may in fact have been bait and perhaps we bit
expecting something more than what we got, I feel there is still value in
the book compared to many of the texts I have read.

Perhaps my own skepticism about the intents of the book actually caused
me to focus more on the message behind the words. And in doing so, I find
myself thinking more about those aspects of bonsai which remain elusive.

Jim Dolce


-----Original Message-----
From: Internet Bonsai Club ]On Behalf
Of Peter
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2004 10:08 PM
To:
Subject: [IBC] Chye Tan: The Spirit of Bonsai Design - Book review


Chye Tan: The Spirit of Bonsai Design – Combine the power of Zen
and nature.
London: Collins and Brown. 2003.
ISBN: 1-84340-021-9
$24.95 US $38.95 CAN £18.99

Reading this book was sheer agony as I knew that several people were
expecting a review on the IBC forum. I have agonized over whether
to follow
through with my original plan to write an article worthy of the New York
Review of Books or have compassion on the author and fellow IBC
members, and
be quick and to the point. I have decided to have mercy and selected the
second option.

If getting my 25 bucks was the author's objective, he got it!

I earnestly tried to keep a list of errors, misspelled words,
poor grammar,
and inappropriately used Japanese words, but after a few pages I
gave up. It
appears that this book is NOT a translation and one could easily reach the
conclusion that it has never seen the pencil of a professional
editor. Even
a better grade spell checking software would improve its text. Enough for
literary quality.

My interest in this book was aroused because of the term "Zen" was used in
the subtitle. The word is also used profusely throughout the book,
especially in combination with "quality." As a matter of fact the
first part
of the book is a gallery of 16 photographs of bonsai and for each
entry the
author lists not only relevant plant and training information, but a
paragraph "Zen qualities." It is my opinion that none of the 16 paragraphs
have anything to do with Zen or any artistic qualities one may find
associated with Zen in East Asian art literature.

The chapter titled "Zen and the art of bonsai" is not about Zen
and art, but
rather the author's view of what bonsai aesthetics should be. For the rest
of the book it appears as if the author had used a random number generator
and when a certain combination of numbers would appear, he would
insert the
word "Zen." In my opinion the only consistency in the use of this word is
that it was consistently inappropriate.

In closing I am taking the liberty of quoting a paragraph, a good practice
for reviewers: "In contrast to the normal bonsai convention of cultivating
soilhugging surface roots, Hobbit style tree roots are
deliberately exposed
to create hollows, as in the film The Lord of the Rings where the hobbits
took refuge in the roots of the trees. ......The cavern-like
holes that form
beneath the trunks have a mysterious look. Unusually, this intriguing Zen
aspect focuses on one of the least dominant features of a
bonsai." (Page 98)
If this paragraph makes sense to you or appeals to you, I
recommend that you
read the book. Otherwise save your money.



Peter Aradi
Tulsa, Oklahoma

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++++Sponsored, in part, by Mark Zimmerman++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++