Master Pan Ji Long has been making penjing (Chinese bonsai) for 60 years now. Just like Zhao Qingquan, his whole family has a long tradition in making penjing. Pan Ji Long’s garden in Nanjing is a peaceful haven in an otherwise urban wasteland inhabited mostly by pushy car dealers, on the banks of a small river.
Nanjing, or Jingling, as the Chinese call it, has it’s own local culture. Due to its location in the middle of the country, Nanjing culture has been influenced from all corners of China. You could say that Nanjing culture is a mix of these different cultures, which all have influenced the local penjing with their own specific characteristics. However, Pan Ji Long argues there are also distinct Nanjing features: “In most parts of China, penjing are quite open in style, which reflects a male attitude. Here in Nanjing, penjing are quite narrow and curled. It refers to a more universal meaning. Elegant, like a woman.”
For Pan Ji Long, penjing is important for his personal well being. Being 70 years of age, he has had 5 operations from which he recovered remarkably fast. He believes he owes this to his penjing. When he stands in front of his works, he feels really good and believes that as a result his body heals very fast. It helps him think as well: “You can compare it with drawing characters: it’s a spiritual development.”
When asked if he translates his own character into his work, Pan Ji Long says the first thing he wants his penjings to show is ‘royalty’ or ‘luxury’. Another meaning he wants his penjing to convey is intelligence. We asked ourselves the question if a tree could convey a person’s character? See for yourself: the image below is a life size detail of one of Pan Ji Long’s trees.
