Man Lung Artistic Pot Plants

Man Lung Artistic Pot Plants by Wu Yee-Sun is a beautifully produced and highly respected work on the ancient Chinese art of penjing, the traditional precursor to what is widely known today as bonsai. Published by Wing Lung Bank Ltd. Art Publications in Hong Kong, this Second and Enlarged Edition appeared in 1974, substantially expanding the original 1969 volume. Issued to commemorate Wu Yee-Sun’s retirement as Chairman of Wing Lung Bank, the enlarged edition includes over one hundred additional photographs, an expanded historical survey of artistic pot plants, and further commentary on the philosophy and development of the art. The bilingual English and Chinese text, translated into English by Cheung Hing-cheong, has made the work accessible to an international audience while preserving its authentic cultural perspective.

Man Lung Artistic Pot Plants showcases an extraordinary collection of meticulously cultivated miniature trees, landscape compositions, viewing stones, and artistic plant displays. Richly illustrated with hundreds of black-and-white and colour photographs, the book demonstrates the remarkable diversity of traditional Chinese penjing styles while explaining the aesthetic principles that guide their creation. Rather than serving solely as a practical manual, it explores the artistic, philosophical, and historical foundations of the discipline, revealing how balance, age, natural form, and symbolism combine to create living works of art.

Wu Yee-Sun was one of the twentieth century’s foremost ambassadors for Chinese penjing, and his passion for preserving and promoting this cultural heritage is evident throughout the volume. His personal collection became internationally renowned, with many specimens eventually donated to botanical gardens and public institutions around the world. This edition remains one of the definitive references on classical Chinese artistic pot plants and is highly sought after by collectors, bonsai enthusiasts, horticultural historians, and students of Asian art. Beautifully presented and extensively illustrated, Man Lung Artistic Pot Plants is both an authoritative reference and a visually stunning celebration of one of China’s oldest living artistic traditions.

Condition: Near Fine – Plastic covered. Minor foxing.