Description

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Kokedama, or "moss ball" (koke = moss, dama = ball), is a type of bonsai that has been practiced for centuries. It originated when members of Japan's lower socioeconomic classes sought out ways to incorporate bonsai's aesthetics into their daily lives without breaking the bank. Kokedama, or "poor man's bonsai," are a wider category of low-maintenance plant and display options.
The Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, which celebrates the world's inherent imperfection, can be seen in the practice of kokedama. Wabi is the quality of simplicity, whether rustic or refined, and often refers to both natural and manmade items, though a direct Western translation of the spirit of this philosophy does not exist. Sabi is the grace and peace that come with maturity and experience.
Wabi-sabi is a flower in full bloom, a delicate crack in a handmade bowl, a well-loved book, an oddly shaped (but delicious) homegrown tomato, a falling leaf, or a kokedama displayed in an asymmetrical manner. In other words, it's a celebration of the raw, the unrefined, and the human.