By Ms Lisa Bourne, Japanese Language Teacher

As part of their Unit of Enquiry on traditional Japanese housing and gardens, the Year 9 students attended a talk at the National Arboretum on the art of bonsai.

The collection features a blend of traditional and modern bonsai styles with 120 exhibits of which approximately 75 trees are on display at any one time. The exhibition gave the students insight into this traditional Japanese practice, while at the same time highlighting Australian native species including banksia and eucalyptus.

Bonsai and Japanese gardens reflect many key aspects of traditional Japanese aesthetics, values and philosophy, such as wabi-sabi (beauty in imperfection), harmony with nature, and Zen principles such as shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) that promote mindfulness and well-being. Japanese gardens also embody Japanese peoples' respect for the changing seasons, a major theme in Japanese poetry, festivals and daily life.

Through the lens of garden design, students were able to explore religious influences from Shinto, Buddhism and Zen philosophies in the aesthetic principles of spatial awareness. They also gained further understanding of sustainability, nature appreciation, and eco-conscious design.