penjing

Penjing, literally "tray landscapes," is the Chinese art of creating miniature trees and landscapes in shallow containers. It combines living trees, rocks, water features, and sometimes figurines to evoke natural scenery such as mountains, rivers, and forests in miniature form.

The practice has ancient roots in China. Some forms date to the late Han dynasty, with early artists placing potted trees in simple settings. By the Tang and Song dynasties, more elaborate miniature landscapes appeared, and during the Ming and Qing periods penjing became associated with literati culture and ideas about harmony with nature. Penjing and bonsai share a common origin, though they developed distinct traditions in China and Japan.

Techniques emphasize proportion, balance, and naturalism. Practitioners prune branches and roots, wire foliage and trunks, position rocks to simulate mountains, and create water features with trays or shallow vessels. The use of gongshi stones, or scholar’s rocks, often complements the composition, guiding arrangement and aesthetic.

Styles vary, including landscape penjing that depicts mountains, rivers, and scenes; single-tree penjing focusing on a dramatic specimen; and group or multi-plant penjing that combines several trees in one scene. Common formal types include rock-over-tree, root-over-rock, and cascading or upright forms.

In contemporary practice, penjing remains a traditional art in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and among diasporic communities. It is exhibited in museums and gardens, taught in art and horticultural settings, and continues to influence the broader field of miniature horticulture alongside its Japanese counterpart, bonsai.