Buzz
1. The Woodcutter with Child on Back
Theme: The woodcutter carries his young child on his back, enduring great hardship, symbolizing the immense sacrifices of a father. The Woodcutter with Child on Back style features an ancient, rugged tree with gnarled roots and a strong, twisted trunk. The tree leans, similar to the Wind-Swept style, with a smaller, more delicate child-like branch perched on the back of the parent tree, symbolizing youth and vitality. The father tree has four main branches and one central peak, shaped with tough, knotted curves, leaning slightly but still strong and grounded, creating balance. This style reflects the deep bond between father and child, reminiscent of the “Old Plum Tree with a Wealthy Son” concept – an aging parent nurturing the next generation.
2. The Father and Son Crossing Branches
Theme: The close and strong bond between father and son. The Father and Son Crossing Branches style features a smaller branch intertwined with the main tree, symbolizing the connection between parent and child. Similar styles, such as those representing siblings or close companions, follow this same concept but vary in size, form, and the way they represent the relationship between the trees. These trees are very flexible in their shaping, and the names often reflect the nurturing bond, such as 'Parent and Child Together,' 'Mother and Son United,' or 'Father and Son in Harmony.'
3. The Wind-Swept Style
Theme: Also known as the Tilted Wind Style. The Wind-Swept style features a tree leaning at an angle of about 30-40 degrees. It must be an ancient tree with roots that rise like creatures, and the trunk should curve like a dragon’s body, returning to its roots. The branches can twist and spread in various directions, but they must reach outward to maintain balance against the wind. This style is also called the '迎风' or 'Facing the Wind' style, where the tree has four main branches and one peak. The branches lean toward the base to prevent the tree from toppling, and the tree’s curvature should be balanced symmetrically: one side represents Yin, the other Yang, with a central tree standing upright to lead the composition.
4. The Five Mountains Style
Theme: Inspired by the five wise elders engaged in conversation or the five peaks of the famous Five Elements Mountain (Ngũ Hành Sơn). The Five Mountains style consists of five trees planted together in a large container or tray, creating a miniature landscape resembling mountains and forests. Each tree has its unique posture—standing, leaning, or lying down—but the composition must vary in size, much like a natural mountain range. It can also be arranged in the shape of the number five. Another variation is the 'Five Elders Conversing' arrangement, where the trees form a circular shape, although a forest-like formation is often considered the most beautiful. The tree trunks and branches must be balanced and complementary to each other; without one of the trees, the design feels incomplete. Trees of the same species, such as Ficus, Mai Chiếu Thủy, Pine, Bamboo, or Kumquat, can be used for this style, all creating a harmonious and beautiful effect.
5. The Dragon and Phoenix Dance Style
Theme: Representing the majesty and power of the homeowner. The Dragon and Phoenix Dance style features a graceful display, symbolizing a phoenix dancing upon the back of a dragon. This style can be created with one or two trees planted in the same pot. The main tree should be an ancient, large tree, positioned so that its roots face upward, forming the dragon’s head. The trunk curves downward, with branches extending outward to represent the dragon’s legs and clouds. The second tree has two roots spreading out like the phoenix’s feet, with the trunk arcing over to embrace the dragon. The branches at the back of the tree curve to form the head and tail of the phoenix, while the left and right branches extend outward, forming the wings of the phoenix in a graceful, dancing posture. The apex of the tree represents the clouds. This style should be shaped with elegance and fluidity, reflecting the phoenix’s dance on the dragon’s back, symbolizing the authority of ancient rulers, a sight once reserved for royal courts.
6. The Dragon and Horse Returning Style
Theme: The dragon turning its head back. The Dragon and Horse Returning style consists of two trees, either separate or from the same root. One tree is tall, and the other is short. The lower tree has a thick, horizontal trunk with its top turning upward, resembling the head of a horse looking back. It has no branches. The taller tree’s trunk curves, twisting in a serpentine manner, with branches spreading outward to form the legs and clouds, while the top forms a large flower-like crown, bending down to create the head of a dragon. This style is challenging to shape, requiring flexible trees with many roots that can be molded to form the horse’s legs and the dragon’s head. It must be done in such a way that the beauty of the form is immediately apparent to the viewer without the need for explanation.
7. The Dragon Wrapping Water Style
Theme: The dragon winding through water. The Dragon Wrapping Water style requires a thick-rooted tree, bent in a way that the top of the trunk arches downward to suggest the dragon’s head drinking from water. The trunk should be twisted like a dragon coiling, with branches extending outward in a four-directional fashion to represent the dragon's legs and clouds. These branches should not stretch too far, but should reach out like claws grasping at the clouds for strength. The surrounding branches create a cloud-like canopy, sheltering the trunk. The top of the tree can stretch upward and curve outward to form a balanced tail or curve back to symbolize the dragon’s head. The overall design should be majestic and stable, portraying the strength and elegance of a dragon winding through water.
8. The Ascending and Descending Dragon Style
Theme: Representing the majesty of the homeowner, typically planted as a pair in front of a house.
- Ascending Dragon: This style has two ways to shape the dragon. One method involves bending the dragon's head to the top of the tree. This is logical, as a dragon must have its head above when soaring, but it is difficult to achieve. The challenge lies in creating a head that sits on top of the tree's apex while the top remains smaller than the base. A dragon's head is always large, and the challenge is to carve out its head, mouth, and nostrils in a way that looks natural. The body of the dragon is easier to shape, as it only needs to curve gently with branches forming the legs and clouds. To achieve a dragon with its head raised, its eyes, nose, and mouth must be angled upward. The front legs must reach out, claws extended, while the rear legs lower with the tail sweeping upward, mimicking the dragon taking flight. The body of the dragon must show power and lift. This style looks better because of its proportion—large head and small tail—with balanced branches that give it an elegant posture.
- Descending Dragon: This style is easier to shape than the ascending dragon. The posture is the opposite of the ascending dragon. The head is angled downward with the chest resting on the pot’s surface. The branches form clouds that wrap around the legs, bending in a way that suggests the dragon is landing. The tail is flexible and curved, acting like a rudder, naturally guiding the dragon’s descent. Despite the gentler pose, it still exudes power and majesty, as the dragon is one of the four mythical creatures, known for its strength. In this style, the head remains large and the tail small, with branches tightly arranged to achieve a graceful downward curve.
9. The Dragon and Tiger Submissive Style
Theme: Also symbolizing the majesty of the homeowner. The Dragon and Tiger Submissive style can be shaped with one large tree featuring two trunks or with two trees planted in a single pot. The design symbolizes a dragon coiled in submission with a tiger lying low to the ground, paying homage to its master. This is a challenging style to shape, as it requires the roots to form the legs of a creature, spread out in front of the tree, with the dragon on the left and the tiger on the right. The tiger’s legs extend outward, while the dragon’s legs rest close to the ground. The left tree, symbolizing the dragon, has its base on the surface of the pot, with the head raised and the body curved to represent the dragon’s form. The branches are twisted to resemble clouds, while the front and rear branches become legs, extending claws to the ground. The top of the tree bends backward, forming a tail. The right tree, symbolizing the tiger, has its base coiled upward from the pot, with the head lowered, and the smaller branches wrapping around the trunk in a decorative fashion, while the tail stretches upward. This style creates a peaceful yet dignified atmosphere of a tiger submitting to the dragon, full of grandeur and respect.
10. The Wind-Resistant Dragon Style
Theme: Symbolizing resilience and an unyielding spirit. The Wind-Resistant Dragon Style represents a tree that has been forcefully bent by the wind, leaning at an angle of approximately 60-70 degrees. The branches lean in one direction, following the force of the wind, but the top of the tree must bend back and regain its strength to stand firm. The lower branches are extended outward, ensuring that the tree maintains its balance within the pot. Despite any imbalance in the upper branches, they must still maintain a steady position, resisting the forces that try to topple them.
