Mountains in the Sea: The Vietnamese Miniature Landscape Art of Hon Non Bo [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Phan Van Lit (Author), Lew Buller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2005

No one knows when Hon Non Bo, or Vietnamese miniature landscape art, began, but creating a scenic landscape in miniature has been a special pastime for Vietnamese people for hundreds of years. The duplication of nature in an artfully reduced scale is now appreciated by many Westerners as well. Lit Phan and Buller's unique new book is a comprehensive and exciting introduction to this elaborate natural art form that is akin to---but different in essential ways from---the more familiar art of bonsai. The book begins with an introduction to the scenic highlights of the landscape and unique geography of Vietnam. Subsequent chapters provide historical details on cultural and philosophical traditions of Hon Non Bo, followed by in-depth information of both an aesthetic and practical nature on how to create elegant and meaningful examples of miniature landscapes. The detailed text is complemented by fine color photos documenting the creative process and providing excellent samples of finished work. Both inspirational and practical, this handsome book is sure to introduce many new devotees to the art of Hon Non Bo.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Hon Non Bo, or the art of creating miniature landscapes, is an important aspect of Vietnamese culture. For centuries Vietnam's mountainous terrain of caverns and outcrops, sinuous rivers, and verdant plant life has inspired the arrangements of stones, water, and plants set in shallow pots. With this book as a resource, admirers of bonsai and Asian art can obtain an effective historical perspective on a little-known living art form, and formulate a context encompassing the spiritual and aesthetic symbolism of Hon Non Bo. Photographs help explain the association of artistic elements and the meaningful countenance of trees, huts, bridges, and animal and human figures used in the creation of the landscapes; a step-by-step approach to making the concrete container basins is also illustrated. A commendable handbook, introducing technical information along with the fundamental precepts of building a miniature landscape. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Large, easy to follow, instructive photographs clearly [define] the Vietnamese art. . . . The book is a pleasure to enjoy. -- William N. Valavanis, International Bonsai, No. 1 2002

The explanations of the historical, religious, and philosophical significance of this art are understandable and very informative. -- Barbara S. Jones, California Garden, May - June 2002

What a fascinating and hiterto completely unknown field. . . . I can hardly wait. -- Stefan Buczacki, Bookseller Buyer's Guide, Autumn 2001

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: Timber Press, Incorporated (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881925152
• ISBN-13: 978-0881925159
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 7.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #250,489 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book that we have been waiting for, September 13, 2002

By 

Craig Coussins, Bonsai Teacher (Scotland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mountains in the Sea: The Vietnamese Miniature Landscape Art of Hon Non Bo (Hardcover)

The amount of work that has gone into this excellent book shows clearly in the clear writing and great images throughout. Not everything is Bonsai now, we are learning about other cultures, and their path to what we find is a mutual interest. This is not a book about Vietnamese Bonsai at all but a book about creating landscape in miniature. Popular for many centuries but little know outside its home, Hon Non Bo is exciting in concept and immensely pleasurable in developing. Not difficult as an art form but does need this book to explain to you how to get started and how to develop your understanding of this ancient art. I enjoyed the book and found myself reaching for it a number of times this year. I recommended it to all my classes, friends and students.

Produced by one of the worlds leading Horticultural publishers, Timber Press, the guiding hand of the editor is apparent in the demand for concise and clear explanation throughout the book that reflects the quality of the rest of their excellent publications. The task was very well achieved by Lew Buller who developed and wrote the book over many years with one of Americas leading exponents in this art, Lit van Phan.

You really do need this on your bookshelf although I have a feeling it will rarely stay there.

5.0 out of 5 stars Mountains in the Sea: The Vietnamese Miniature Landscape Art of Hon Non Bo, January 14, 2012

By 

maple - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Mountains in the Sea: The Vietnamese Miniature Landscape Art of Hon Non Bo (Hardcover)

Escribire en español para decir lo maravilloso que es este libro. Lleva a volar la imaginaciòn en bonsai y penjing por cielos muy altos. Lo recomiendo ampliamnte. Mis mas sinceras felicitaciones al autor.