Mr. Bui Quang Vi - a Vietnamese ornamental plant artisan standing beside an ancient ornamental tree that is hundreds of years oldThe Bui family's ornamental plant craft
The story of the Bui family's involvement in the ornamental plant trade dates back to the early 20th century, when their ancestors first began cultivating and shaping ornamental plants. Initially, this craft was merely a manual task for farmers such as growing plants in their gardens or creating decorative greenery for their homes. However, thanks to their ingenuity and love for plants, bonsai profession was gradually elevated to an art and the Bui family became one of the famous families in this field in Ninh Binh province.
Notably, the Bui clan (Bui family) in Lai Thanh Commune (Ninh Bình Province) boasts a multi-generational tradition in the ornamental plant and creature trade; the family of Mr. Bui Dinh Hai, in particular, has produced three generations of artisans recognized at both provincial and national levels.
One of the sons who followed the family trade is Mr. Bui Quang Vi - a nationally recognized ornamental plant artisan who has achieved great success thanks to his dedication, passion and profound knowledge of ornamental plants so he achieved great success. Furthermore, Mr. Vi has engaged in social welfare activities not only locally but also in various other provinces; carrying on the family legacy, many of his grandchildren continue to follow in Mr. Hai’s footsteps in the profession.
According to artisan Bui Quang Vi, a third-generation member of the Bui family, the craft of ornamental plant cultivation has been passed down from generation to generation. “My grandfather was the first to introduce creative approaches to shaping ornamental plants. In those days, ornamental plants were simply garden plants, yet he began shaping them. By our generation, the craft had evolved into an art form”, Mr. Vi shared.
Up to now, artisan Bui Quang Vi’s garden boasts a diverse collection of trees, including specimens featuring four classic traditional styles: dragon, upright, cascading, and semi-cascading. Additionally, the garden showcases many bonsai trees crafted by the artisan’s own skillful hands.
Each ornamental plant belonging to the Bui family is not merely a beautiful bonsai but a work of art, with every tree bearing a distinctive signatureConstantly innovating
The distinctive feature of the Bùi family's ornamental plant artisans lies in the combination of plant care techniques and the art of shaping. Each ornamental plant belonging to the Bui family is not merely a beautiful bonsai but a work of art, with every tree bearing a distinctive signature. In order to create a perfect bonsai tree, artisans of the Bui family must undergo a long and incredibly meticulous process.
According to artisan Bui Dinh Hai (now 95 years old), shaping bonsai trees requires immense patience. “A bonsai tree can take three to five years to complete. We have to tend to every single branch, shaping it to achieve the most beautiful form without hindering the tree’s natural growth”, Mr. Hai shared. A bonsai tree must not only be beautiful but also possess a soul, reflecting the heart and spirit of its creator. The pine, banyan, and eucalyptus trees are tended and shaped by the Bui family into unique forms, embodying profound meanings regarding strength and resilience or the softness and grace of nature.
Growing indoor plants not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of a home but also holds significant meaning in terms of feng shui; in feng shui, plants can help neutralize unfavorable elements within the house. Therefore, if plants are carefully selected to align with the homeowner's feng shui and placed in the right spots within the home, they can help ward off negative energy while fostering prosperity and good fortune, Mr. Hai added./.
