Bodhidharma & Poetry Square Bonsai Pot

A Quiet Figure Among Written Words

This compact bonsai pot has a softly rounded body shaped around a square opening. Four small feet lift the form gently from the surface, while the blue-lined rim gives the upper edge a clear and composed finish.

Blue calligraphic inscriptions extend across much of the white-glazed exterior. Their changing scale, spacing, and brush movement create a continuous visual rhythm as the pot is turned. Rather than reading as a repeated border, the writing becomes part of the vessel’s overall composition.

On one side, Bodhidharma appears in a red robe, his strong expression and upright presence standing apart from the surrounding blue script. The restrained palette allows the red figure to become the visual centre of the pot without overwhelming its compact form.

The square opening contrasts with the rounded body below, giving the vessel a distinctive silhouette from both the front and above. Blue details on the feet echo the inscriptions and rim, quietly connecting the individual elements.

Combining calligraphy, portraiture, and an unusual compact shape, the pot carries a character that is contemplative yet direct. Its decoration unfolds gradually around the body, offering a different balance of figure and writing from every angle.