Bonsai: Art or Enslavement?
Why We Should Reconsider Our Relationship with Trees
Mr.Shamanathan Kanniyappan, EGF India
8/27/2025
Have you ever seen a tiny tree, growing in a little pot, looking like a miniature version of a giant forest tree? This is called "bonsai." People have been making bonsai trees for a very long time, and many think it's a beautiful art. It takes a lot of work and care! But what if we asked the tree how it feels? What if, to the tree, being a bonsai isn't art at all, but like being kept in a cage? Let's think about this together.
The Tree's "Soul": Does it Want to Be Free?
Imagine you have a favorite toy, and you know it has a special feeling inside, almost like it's alive. Many people believe that trees, too, have a kind of "soul" or a special life force. If a tree has feelings, then think about what it wants most: to grow big and strong! To reach its branches up to the sky, to spread its roots far into the earth, and to become a giant, shady home for birds.
But with bonsai, we keep the tree tiny. We trim its branches and roots, making sure it stays small in its pot. If a tree has a soul, does it wish it could grow tall? Does it dream of being a mighty tree in a big forest? It's a bit like taking a little bird and keeping it in a small cage, even though it wants to fly high in the sky.
What if Trees Did This to Us?
Let's play a game of "what if." What if trees were super big and smart, and they decided to do to us what we do to bonsai trees?
Imagine you were put into a tiny house, and every time you grew a little taller, they trimmed your hair and made sure you couldn't get too big. You'd never get to run around outside, play in a big park, or see the whole wide world! You'd be stuck in that small house, looking perfect for the trees to admire.
Beyond Just "Pretty": Thinking About Our Planet
When we think about bonsai, it's not just about one little tree. It also makes us think about how we treat all of nature. Our Earth has big forests that are home to so many animals and plants. Sometimes, people cut down too many trees, which is not good for our planet.
When we make a bonsai tree, we are trying to control nature and make it look just how we want it. Is this okay? Or should we let nature be wild and free, the way it was meant to be? It's like having a beautiful drawing, but instead of letting the colors splash naturally, you try to keep every single drop of paint in one tiny, perfect spot. It's a way of saying, "I want nature to look my way," instead of "I love nature just the way it is."
Beyond Just "Pretty": Thinking About Our Planet
When we think about bonsai, it's not just about one little tree. It also makes us think about how we treat all of nature. Our Earth has big forests that are home to so many animals and plants. Sometimes, people cut down too many trees, which is not good for our planet.
When we make a bonsai tree, we are trying to control nature and make it look just how we want it. Is this okay? Or should we let nature be wild and free, the way it was meant to be? It's like having a beautiful drawing, but instead of letting the colors splash naturally, you try to keep every single drop of paint in one tiny, perfect spot. It's a way of saying, "I want nature to look my way," instead of "I love nature just the way it is."
So, what can we do? Maybe we should start seeing trees as living things, not just pretty decorations. Bonsai trees can look nice, but is it fair to keep them small just to make us happy? Instead of trying to control trees, we can protect them, plant more of them, and let them grow big and free. When trees grow naturally, they clean the air, give animals a home, and help our planet. Maybe real beauty is not in changing nature, but in letting it be wild and free. Loving nature means respecting it. So next time you see a bonsai tree, think about the big tree it could have become. Maybe it's time to be kind to nature, not the boss of it.
Conclusion: A New Way to See Trees
Bonsai trees may look beautiful, but when we stop to think deeply, we might realize that beauty shouldn't come at the cost of a tree's freedom. If trees have a spirit or a life force, then maybe they don’t want to be kept small and shaped just for our enjoyment. They might want to grow tall, stretch their branches, and live freely in the wild. By controlling nature too much, we forget to appreciate it for what it truly is. Maybe the greatest way to love trees—and all of nature—is to protect them, let them grow, and admire them just the way they are. After all, real beauty comes from freedom, not from control.