Bonsai and Shinto | The Roots of the Art

In this episode, we explore the roots of Bonsai Art in Japan's native Shinto religion.
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[@TheBonsaiZone]

Bjorn, you're putting all us KZbinr's to shame with your cinematic, super high quality videos! Just fantastic. PS, what camera do you use?

[@EiseienBonsai]

Thanks Nigel! I use a Nikon D5500 and Rode mic for all my vids.

[@Shane7492]

I'm more interested in the lenses and editing software.

[@EiseienBonsai]

Nikkor 16-85, Nikkor 35 and 50mm, FCPX software

[@Shane7492]

Thanks for the reply! If I learn to shoot and edit half as good as what you've done in this video, I'll be well on my way! Great job.

[@EiseienBonsai]

Thanks for checking out this week's episode! Your support is tremendous!

[@daviskaya100]

Awesome video.

[@PembertonBuddlestick]

Beautifully shot and edited!

[@Jawgeous]

1:02 -> 1:33 - Some of the best cinematography I've seen on KZbin tbh. Flawless.

[@judymagrath3771]

Amazing episode of your vlog- thank you for sharing your knowledge of history in such an interesting and engaging manner!

[@bildahome]

OMG!! This is so well filmed and edited !! It’s such a great context and inspiration for my Bonsai Love ! Many Thanks Bjorn !! Does this also emply that we will miss you at the biggest Bonsai Show in Europe? (Noelanders / Genk / Belgium / 8, 9 and 10 Februari 2019)

[@victorwatson1996]

Im following in my grandfather's footsteps and starting my own garden. Thankyou for this history video and thankyou for having such an enjoyable channel 👍

[@dshevack1]

There is so much information to learn. I would like to see more videos on the history of Bonsai.

[@stonecoldcarebear]

Great transitions! Nice editing!

[@bonsaikamarchan1622]

Excelente vídeo!!! Gracias por mostrar la cultura y esos maravillosos lugares de Japón, un país grandioso!!! Saludos Bjorm!!!

[@TxCwby]

Many thanks to you and Nancy for an excellent tour and insightful description of the island and its tie to bonsai! Good luck with Eisei-en!

[@bigbuxxx00]

Love ur use of those lo fi "dilla" beats. Work very well.

[@jotapeka]

Wow great video! Very good edition! Inspiring bonsai lovers! Greetings from Chile

[@decinevaeltema]

I've been there this summer and must say is probably the most magical place I found in Japan. It's just fantastic!

[@eamonnoneill1317]

Awesome video. Thanks Bjorn. Shakas.

[@misterwray9807]

Tremendous! We very much enjoyed it. Happy New Year.

[@theonlydkdreng]

I really liked your editing. Reminded me of "watchtower of turkey", but with longer shots :) Edit: I mean in the beginning

[@seth6700]

Incredible video, clean edits and I love the Lo-Fi music. I hope to one day have the honor of becoming your senpai, with time, practice, experience, and the right opportunity I wish to one-day accomplish! thank you so much for the motivation information to keep me going in a field that I love with all my heart, keep up the great work my friend!

[@senseicourtney]

Absolutely amazing video, proper professional, I’ve always loved your vlogs, but lately they are truly turning into something very special Osu!

[@BonsaiBear27]

Very insightful video, bonsai+Shinto= happiness.

[@gabrielarevalillo1105]

Agree with that, great video as always, thanks!

[@maurodaniele7866]

Bjorn, you're quite the filmmaker. The cinematic quality of your videos has always been great but this one in particular was so remarkable I watched it twice. Well done sir! Is this where the miyajima white pine gets is name?

[@naturetherapyfilms]

Very nice video indeed

[@jessb588]

thank you for this video!

[@arifgerrard]

Nice to see u again master bonsai

[@renatopamoso6774]

Thank you so much, I love it!

[@charlesmckemie8921]

Great video and very instructive. Learned a lot. You sir have a second career ahead of you as the “Rick Steves “ of Japan 🇯🇵 ! Thank you!

[@YouSmellOfFancyTuna]

great video but i wish you had talked more about bonsai, kinda just felt like i was watching a vlog till the end haha. but a very well shot one lol

[@claytonjones6208]

Awsome vid, I hope you will be covering the kokufu I'm missing it this year , also the video is like a modern lindsay's farrs😉

[@michaelswenson4877]

Well done! Thanks for sharing your experiences with us!

[@drewpat44]

Just captivating cinematography, well done sir!

[@nowgaku]

I respect you so much as a Japanese. 今後もご活躍お祈りしています。

[@invertevision4757]

I had no idea your garden was located just 1.5 hours away from me till just the other day lol! I wish I had kept growing my bonsai knowledge 9years ago but I think I tried to go to big to fast and discouraged myself. Super stoked to come back as I have always loved nature as a whole and hope to maybe have a chat sometime if I were to meet you while being in Nashville. I re gently joined the NBS... it's gonna be a great year!!!

[@EiseienBonsai]

Please stop by for a visit anytime!

[@gabrielschneider1344]

Bjorn!!! Back again. Nice to see that you’re in Japan and take some time to rest. Really nice pictures and a really good artwork of this vlog. You are the Master of the young dynamic, naturalistic, upcoming Bonsaiszene. Big up from Germany and go on with your positive way. Regards

[@arifgerrard]

What about my project Im beginner Need your suggestion Tq

[@EiseienBonsai]

Thanks so much Gabriel!

[@justinjeffries9248]

Miyajima is amazing. Loved my time there, went there so often I should have just stayed in Hiroshima instead of Kyoto last summer 😂

[@rodrigomachini2983]

Nice Edit WoW!!!

[@basicbonsaivlog3482]

Super great video,.. and great content,..

[@deploribusunum3894]

Gorgeous.

[@seto4795]

Thank you for a wonderful video

[@lello333]

really impressed with the movie Bjorn, u are an OSCAR direct movie maker :D all the best from Italy :)

[@naturetherapyfilms]

I like the end of the video three letters FIN

[@hunterkendrick6294]

I LOVE YOUR CHANNEL YOUR SO AMAZING

[@anilkumarn6091]

Happy new year greetings. Anil From India

[@jesusgonzalez7267]

Just fucking impresive, thanks dude...Bonsai-do

[@Hoeffel11]

Thanks for that awesome video

[@jholid6y]

🙏🙏🙏

[@demontalembertjean1432]

Very interesting !!! But you don’t speak of Zen. Isn’t it strongly related to the art of bonsai ?

[@seto4795]

I live in Japan. Miyajima is a wonderful island that makes us feel close to the existence of God.

[@ROCKLEE_2]

Hi bro, teach me japanese.!! Please

[@seto4795]

I want to be able to speak English. If you have anything you would like to know about Japan, please ask a question.

[@cosmiceon]

Killin it once again!

[@ian9066]

Love this video !

[@ramon2008]

hi can you tell me what the name of the song is at 2:15? thanks

[@user-kn9ow4pk9n]

素敵な動画✨✨✨✨☀

[@bonsaiculture]

Awesome video.

[@happinessliving6713]

Can someone please help me: As far as I understand Shinto is about allowing nature to be and following its flow and living in Harmony with it. Bonsai seems to be alot about manipulating nature to fit a Ideal or even restricting nature by putting a Tree which wants to grow in a pot. Does anyone see this conflict? Other views VERY welcome.

[@menphisjw831]

Wonderful!😉👏

[@austinw6552]

I wonder why Nancy is never featured in your films?

[@LessTalkMoreDelicious]

More niwaki/garden-tree content please :)

[@hunterkendrick6294]

U R so cool and i love the lofi music for this video ;)

[@brachistochrone_5206]

No offense to you bjorn but did you get an editor? Or did your editing game just get seriously strong?

[@EiseienBonsai]

Thanks Joe! Nope, I filmed and edited everything myself.

[@thepaperstaggering]

So. Lo-fi, huh. dope

[@mayurkamble2904]

Hello bjron sir I wait for reply from 3 year wan will I get reply from you

[@ZeljkoSerdar]

We 💙🌲🌳🌵🌱日本

[@benparkinson8314]

So when Im using string to bend branches into new position Im not broke Im harkening back to the roots of the practice. Lol

[@tinhhoanetviet678]

To

[@josephmcclure1621]

Thank you and recharge those batteries!

[@brianellison1]

I thought Bonsai was invented in China and brought to Japan.

[@user-hs6my7mt7b]

They said I have personal power as a girl They only thing is, they want this place to sink I got nice clothes at the mall I chilled with only the 16 year olds I spoke only Japanese I showed the guy at the Asian booth My girlfriend, he said wow, nice, and of my approach (the feet) he said wow.. very powerful for Japanese He said probably better you have power as a girl not a guy The girls path is more peaceful, especially if you aren't supporting the gay culture Just literally being a girl and natural that's a very personal kind of power To the older generation we are saying act wisely or be ousted because your weakness will be our gain You could easily show personal power and chose life Working to keep this area fashionable Mean Asian Weak people will be cut off Not bondage We were like.. let's become stoners lol Personal power Everyone else gets hooked on the MDMA (a wierd bad drug like coke) We were the only ones making it through lol Personal power to stick with the good plants not the addictive or poison ones, not chemicals And this is what the older generation ju st surrendered.. even though they can have it We r done pushing them.. they can rise themselves we help us until it gets less cutthroat, understandable for a beginning step overtly into influential fashion ____ the ID trick Or were we really sixteen or is our health just that good?? Fortunately you cant tell from first look because were so innocent.. Asian recipe (gives us a little edge) Enjoy Do you believe health is possible or do you just accept what the calendar puts out? If you study Asian mythology This is traditional There's a code word CHUCKIE CHEESE We, the 16 year olds (and anyone older who can chill) will hang out at chuckie cheese (what they usually call a kid thing) And genuinely have fun because its chuckie cheese Check the ki!!! Real little kids will also go there seperately.. have no idea we were there and everyone will have fun Instead of.. we the 16 year olds will go to an all ages rave and the older kids will not notice.. The question is .. will a little kid be able to sneak in with us and if so what will happen.. we are saying impossible and not even desirable They would just be scared lol regardless of the settingOne older girl already said she would party with us... not happy hour Thank jung

[@hayek218]

Shinto: Unlike Judaism, Christianity, Islam or Buddhism, Shinto emerged when there was still no writing system in Japan. It is a belief that has a revelence for the nature as it assumes gods resides within every creation, and it diefies ancestralsouls while emphasizing its religious rituals. But somehow, it does not feel like a religion. Why? Shinto has no scripture, doctrine, eschatology, heaven or hell, and all stories were created afterwards. Not only that, there is no god to judge you, or not even criteria for judging. Furthermore, there is no reincarnation thus no karma. So, some foreigners say Shinto cannot be called a religion, as it lacks some fundamental aspects of religions. To the ordinary Japanese, Shinto is not exactly a religion either as most Japanese confidently say that they are not religious. Yet, in actuality, they all pray at a Shinto shrine at least once a year, and in their everyday life, they are unconsciously guided by one of the fundamental condepts of Shintoism, i.e., to live with the law of nature (自然の理法). One another important concept comes from rice cultivation that Shinto is closely related to, and it is called “Musuhi (産霊).” It is a power that bears and grows new lives from where there is no life, just like rice that grows roughly 400 grains from a single grain. Rather than basing decisions on morally right or wrong, it implicitly cherishes growth and vital powers (生命力), and the Japanese have been traditionally valuing whatever that leads to more growth and prosperous lives as “Good (Yoshi, 善し)” and whatever that does not as “Bad (Ashi, 悪し).” You can even see this in Japanese cultures like novels, mangas, games, or in TV idol groups, where players, readers and fans are designed to enjoy characters originally with little or no talent to grow into some strong or talented figures. You do not see this development in characters in other countries, where protagonist are originally heroes from the beginning. In Shinto and the Japanese minds, everything is an integral part of the universe. There is no nature or individual as in the dualistic sense used in the West: not only the notional distinction between the two but also the actual words themselves. The Japanese words, "自然 (nature)" or "個人 (individual)," were only created AFTER the Meiji Restoration in the late 19th century for translations of new Western words, “nature" and “individual," when also the word and the concept of "religion (宗教)" came to Japan. Shintoism is about the sensitivity (感性) rather than the truth, and it is about whether things are beautiful or not according to its aesthetics rather than being logical, rational, just, or right or wrong. Sensitivity (感性) is placed above the Reason. It is not like “believing” as in other religions, but it is like “following” or more likely, “living." You could say, if other religions are like "computer programs" that command you to do or prohibit you from doing various things, Shinto is more like “an operating system" that runs at a much deeper level without you noticing it. It does not make you do anything or prohibit you from doing anything. But it is definitely there, affecting the lives of Japanese people in many aspects. The Japanese have very humble attitudes towards Shintoism because they unconsciously accept the fact that the wisdom, values, orders, ethics, morals, customs, traditions, cultures, aesthetics, i.e., just about everything about the everyday Japanese life were emerged and developed over thousands of years in their agricultural society on their relatively disastrous motherland with the Shintoism. In other words, Shintoism is not only providing premises, but also part of objectives for all Japanese lives. This is the reason behind the Japanese unwillingness to change their “obvious" wrongs or inefficient things for seemingly no reason, which many foreigners complain.

[@judymagrath3771]

Amazing episode of your vlog- thank you for sharing your knowledge of history in such an interesting and engaging manner!