Testimonials

"The world of penjing and bonsai is indebted to Mr. Zhao for so generously sharing with us his art and experiences on this subject. I strongly recommend this book to all penjing and bonsai enthusiasts as an indispensable addition for their libraries."
Dan Barton, author of The Bonsai Book, Bristol, U.K.

"Mr. Zhao's miniature landscapes radiate an ethereal beauty that touches the human soul irrespective of culture. His sensitivity and talent mark him as one of the truly great bonsai artists of our era."
David Easterbrook, Curator, Montreal Botanical Garden Bonsai Collection, Montreal, Canada.

"A very fine book, superbly illustrated and well written. I think it will be welcomed by bonsai and penjing enthusiasts all over the world."
Hu Yunhua, author of Chinese Penjing and Penjing: The Chinese Art of Miniature Gardens, Shanghai, China.

"Once I started reading the book I couldn't put it down; it was just spectacular! To think that all the penjing were the author's own was almost overwhelming."
Hal Mahoney, Long Island, NY, USA.

"An excellent book, inspiring for the mind; we devoured the pages with fascination. Very instructional, well written with a wealth of information for both the beginner and advanced student of bonsai/penjing and gardening in general."
Chase and Solita Rosade, growers, teachers, and lecturers, Rosade Bonsai Studio, New Hope, PA, USA.

"Presents a clear insight into the intriguing art of penjing. Expresses the traditional Chinese literati and water-and-land penjing in an aesthetic and creative way."
William N. Valavanis, publisher, International Bonsai, Rochester, NY, USA.

"A truly elegant book on an even more elegant art form. This book is a gem, a book to treasure. I do PenJing art, myself, and this book was an inspiration to me. There are many nice coffee table books out there, and this is one of the nicest."
Michael Patterson, Granville, Massachusetts, USA.

"I really really liked this book. Your penjing plantings are exquisite horticultural icons presented with an eye of a true artist."
Phil Bennett, Etiwanda, California, USA

"Worlds of Wonderment" is one of the best books around with very little on horticulture (a relief) and explains the history, art and aesthetics of Penjing. Zhao's Water and Land Penjing are true enlightenment and his explanations of Chinese Literati are a great step forward."

Anton Nijhuis, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

 

"The photos and illustrations are excellent!"
Donald West, Napa, California, USA

 

"I really liked this book. In particular, I enjoyed learning about his philosophy of bonsai."
Jack Douthitt, Fox Point, Wisconsin, USA

 

"The photography is beautiful and explicit. The application of general design principles to Penjing was exceptionally clear and most helpful. I will never master the art, but I will henceforth be better able to appreciate what I see."
Max Carey, Shalimar, Florida, USA

 

"A real masterpiece production!"
Dr. Eliezer Shenhav, Israel

 

"The 1st comprehensive discussion of penjing I've ever seen in English. The marvellous overview of penjing styles and philosophy accompanied by the nitty-gritty one needs to be able to actually DO penjing.... This book has changed my whole concept of TREE ART. If American bonsai art is to evolve as a synthesis of Asian art, I feel it must encompass all the forms. This book adds tremendous depth to my entire conceptualization of "living tree art".
John Evans, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA

 

"I particulary enjoyed the beautiful photography. Mr. Zhao's attention to detail is wonderful. The close-up photos of his water-and-land penjing look like scenes right out of Nature."
Nikolaus W. Matheis, Portland, Oregon, USA

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