Bonsai Technique Sharimiki

Recommended Indoor Bonsai Trees

      In my previous post I discussed how to create jin on a bonsai branch. In this post I will discuss how to create sharimiki or shari  which complements jin. Sharimiki is created by stripping bark off part of the trunk. Natural sharimiki is when a tree may have been struck by lightning and part of the bark has been removed. The type of trees this is commonly seen on is junipers and pines. The basic tools needed to create sharimiki are electricians pliers and a gardening knife, however bonsai specialist tools will make the job easier. Bonsai Tools & Wire 

     As like creating jin the best time to creat sharimiki is in the summer when the flow of sap is greatest which makes it easier to strip the bark from the trunk of the tree. Be careful not to strip too much off the trunk as the tree depends on its bark to survive. When creating sharimiki keep in mind that you are working towards making it look natural so think about how it would look in nature such as how lightning strikes a trunk of a tree and which direction a branch would have fallen. Also you can study trees in nature that have gone through trauma. Relate what you have observed when creating sharimiki. When the sharamiki is complete you will need to wait for the exposed heartwood to dry and then treat the areas with a lime/sulpher solution to bleach and preserve the exposed wood. The color will be yellow at first, fade to white and then to a natural gray. For books on bonsai Click here

     To begin creating sharimiki you need to mark the position on the trunk with a pen. The next step is to cut into the bark to the heartwood and peel back the bark from the trunk using the tip of the knife. You want to create the sharimiki so it will link to the jin or jins (bark striped off the branch). You will see hair-like fibers on the surface of the heartwood - you can burn these off with a small flame. Once the sharimiki and jin are complete the tree appears much more aged or mature. The effect you want, so pat your self on the back.

Creating Jin in Bonsai

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   Creating jin is the art of  removing bark from a branch of a bonsai tree. The purpose is to give it an aged look. In nature you may see a dead branch of a tree that has been exposed to wind, rain, and bleached by the sun which eventually turns the barkless branch to a white-silvery color. This is the effect you want to create on your bonsai tree branch or branches. In nature jins are often seen on oaks, conifer, junipers and pines. Jin does not appear often on deciduous trees. (trees that lose their leaves seasonally)

     To creat a jin on a conifer, leave a stump several inches long when pruning a branch so it can be converted into a jin. Summer is the best time to do this because the sap moves the most during this season and makes it easier to remove the bark. Once you have made the jin let it dry in the sun and then apply a coat of lime/sulphur to bleach and preserve the wood. Reapply once or twice a year in the summer, doing this maintains the weather resistance of the jin. You can use a fine sandpaper to smooth and carve to refine it. This will help give it a more natural look. It's important to make sure the jin is in proportion with the other branches that have foliage.

     To start the jin, pick a branch you want to create the jin on. Remove all the foliage on the branch using branch cutters and scissors. Bonsai Tools & Wire Start at the base of the branch with a sharp knife and cut through the bark. The cut must go all around and through to the heartwood. Take the tip of the knife and cut into the bark through the heartwood from the trunk to the branch tip. Using jin pliers squeeze and twist the bark from the heartwood. Remove all the bark from the branch.  Once this is done you will see how the jin is taking shape and has a natural occurring look. To give a more natural and ragged look you can split and tear back the branch using branch cutters and pliers. Bonsai Tools & Wire It only takes a few minutes to create a weathered, natural looking jin using simple tools and it's your creative work!