Page 33 - BCI Bonsai & Stone Appreciation Q1 2025

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The main trunk on the right side of this Juniper
is flattened and white, spiraling upward as if it were
the rapidly leaping Bai Dai Yu (White Banded Fish),
affectionately nicknamed 白帶魚 “Bai Dai Yu”!
After World War II was a time filled with suffering
yet brimming with hope.
The public faced significant struggles due to a lack
of basic necessities, and in an era without refrigerators,
it was common for ordinary people to go days without
fish or meat in their meals. A small piece of pickled
Bai Dai Yu, about three to four centimeters square, less
than one centimeter thick, and laden with fish bones,
accompanied by some cabbage or tofu soup, became
the dining table’s centerpiece.
Most Taiwanese of that era have vivid memories of
Bai Dai Yu, whether tied to hardship or helplessness,
whether they embraced it or not! It was a symbol of
hope and aspirations for the future, and these sentiments
accumulated into the very elements that helped us
grow strong. The Bai Dai Yu also became one of the
best emblems of emotions during this period!
Our nursery
stock that my
father began
with a cutting
about 40 years
ago.
January/February/March 2025 | BCI | 31