The Back Story
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Torii Gates represent the doorway into a sacred place and commonly mark the entrance of Shinto shrines. Used as a wedding motif, the gates signify the sacredness of the marriage agreement.
Although bonsai is often
thought of as a Japanese innovation, the Chinese were the first to create
bonsai many centuries ago. This art form
migrated to Japan with the spread of Buddhism. Buddhist monks began cultivating
bonsai in monasteries. Eventually,
Bonsai became a hobby of the aristocracy. The skill required to shape
vegetation into miniature masterpieces was regarded as the key to understanding
nature.
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