Shanshui-Style Penjing
Along with shumu, shanshui is the other main penjing style. Shanshui is incredibly important to penjing as it helps set a clear difference between penjing and other related arts, such as bonsai. Read on to learn the elements that set shanshui apart from other penjing forms.
Shanshui Penjing is about Creating Miniature Landscape Scenes
The most crucial difference between shanshui penjing and other small-scale artistic planting styles is that shanshui depicts landscape scenes, in miniature, rather than displaying a single specimen plant. This representation of entire landscape scenes sets shanshui apart from shumu penjing, bonsai, and other art forms.
Rock Design Is a Main Feature of Shanshui Penjing
Shanshui penjing almost always features rocks in one form or another. Typically, these rocks account for the main structural components of a shanshui penjing display. These rocks are often arranged in patterns that mimic natural landscapes, especially mountainous scenes.
Since shanshui penjing is mainly about creating miniature landscapes, the stones used in shanshui often imitate hills, cliffs, or outcroppings. At times, the shanshui artist may spend many hours carving and perfecting their stones to achieve a specific texture and overall look.
Shanshui Penjing Includes Water Features
The other main element you are likely to notice in a shanshui penjing display is water. While stone mimics landforms, like hills and mountains, water in a shanshui penjing design typically imitates a lake, pond, or river.
The prevalence of water and stone emphasizes one of the most important spiritual principles associated with penjing, the balance between contrasting forces. In shanshui penjing, water provides a softness that perfectly juxtaposes the hardness of stone.
Shanshui Often Incorporates Small Plants
Water and stone help distinguish shanshui penjing from other penjing styles, but plants remain important as well. Nearly all shanshui penjing displays will include some form of plant life, whether that be miniature trees, grasses, or mosses.
These plants help add interest to a shanshui display and can soften the appearance of the rocks. The plants used in this style also help reinforce the idea that a shanshui display is a miniature representation of a natural landscape. As such, plant life is crucial to creating a sense of realism in a shanshui penjing design.