Design Elements Used in Penjing
Penjing is a unique art form that consists of several specific design elements. If you are interested in gaining a better understanding of what constitutes a penjing design, read on through the following chapter, which will introduce you to the basics of penjing design.
Gnarled, Twisting Trunks and Branches
Plants are typically the primary element of a penjing design. Often, these plants will feature gnarly, twisting forms, especially in their main trunks and branches. This wildness is another point of contrast between penjing and bonsai. While bonsai plants tend to be quite stark in their forms, penjing plants are more likely to exemplify the wild forces of nature. But while penjing depicts the ruggedness of nature, each plant within a penjing design requires careful pruning and training in order for it to take on the intended form.
Secondary Plants and Figures
While wild tree forms account for the main plantings in a penjing design, other elements will play a role as well. Secondary plants, including grasses, mosses, and more, all add to a penjing design to make it more of a landscape rather than a display of a single specimen tree. Additionally, penjing often includes small figurines, like people, animals, or small structures, to further add depth and a sense of scale to the landscape scene.
Water and Stone
Water and stone are often two of the most prominent elements of penjing. While not all penjing will include water, many do to create the appearance of a small river or pond. On the other hand, most penjing will feature some form of stone. The arrangement of carefully selected rocks gives penjing its overall form, often depicting a mountainous scene. Stone also gives penjing more detail and texture, similar to what is found in true nature.
Contrast and Balance
While not as explicitly visible as other design features, contrast and balance are two of the most important underlying elements of penjing. The need for contrast and balance reveals the relationship between penjing and various philosophical and spiritual beliefs, including Buddhism and Daoism. At times, penjing may play off the yin/yang concept or express different dichotomies such as life and death and fire vs. water.
Landscape Depictions from Different Views
One important aspect of penjing is that it should provide visual intrigue from several angles and at different scales. Often, penjing is put on display in an area where a viewer can move all the way around the design. This allows the viewer to enjoy different, equally interesting vantage points. To achieve this effect, the penjing design must have plenty of detail and offer something of ornament whether the viewer is at a close distance, a medium distance, or is taking in the entire penjing display.