Ancient banyan tree offered 11 billion, owner still shakes head
It is rare to have the owner of a nearly 200-year-old ancient banyan tree display it at an exhibition. Perhaps that is why many visitors were surprised by this "super tree" measuring 3m high and spreading over 5m.
The owner of this “super tree” is Mr. Vu Trong Thuy, a Hanoi businessman originally from Y Yen, Nam Dinh, a member of the Nam Dinh Ornamental Plants Club. This ancient bonsai tree has been a family heirloom for many generations and is now nearly 200 years old.
The nearly 200-year-old banyan tree is about 3 meters tall and has a canopy of more than 5 meters.
The banyan tree was personally shaped and cared for by him and his brother and is called by names such as "Nhat toa kinh thien", "Giant tree with village shape" or "Nhat Phuc village shape".
Mr. Thuy said that in the past, this banyan tree was planted on the surface of a water basin in the countryside. It had gone through many storms and frosts, but luckily it still survived until now. After many years, it was noticed and began to be balanced, cared for and shaped based on the idea of the Tan Trao banyan tree.
Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong was very impressed with the ancient village-shaped bonsai tree at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Ornamental Plants Exhibition on November 18.
Talking about the experience of creating this masterpiece, the owner of the tree said that during the process, he asked some experts for advice on the shape and how to do it.
The first and most elaborate step is to create the shape of the root base. According to Mr. Thuy, before making the stone base, we must know whether the tree's roots are chopstick roots or taproots... can we sign on the stone base?
Second, for bonsai, you have to consider the age of ten or a hundred years, so choosing a durable stone is very important. For bonsai, Mr. Thuy often prefers to use driftwood, elephant skin stone or snow mountain stone... with edges because he wants his work to be close to natural trees.
According to Mr. Thuy, the ancient banyan tree only needs water for many years and does not need any kind of phosphate fertilizer. No matter the harsh weather, hot or cold, the leaves of the tree are still green, and in season the tree can give a basketful of fruit.
When bonsai prices were at their peak in 2010, someone offered to pay more than 11 billion for the tree, but the family did not sell it and wanted to keep it to pass on to the next generation.
The two brothers Thuy designed the tree in the style of Nhat Phuc village, meaning the entire work has only one fruit, symbolizing peace, unity and happiness. Similar to the owner's idea, many visitors to the exhibition also expressed that the tree reminds them of their childhood memories and the Vietnamese countryside.Although there are many invitations to events, this is only the second time the Nhat Phuc village bonsai tree has been brought to the exhibition. The level of tree shaping and time has created a work that makes the connoisseurs surprised and admired.
Most visitors to the 2018 Bonsai Exhibition were surprised and delighted by the ancient village-shaped bonsai tree.
