By using artificially miniaturized trees and shrubs, these compositions are created in special trays or pots that are placed on decoratively carved stands. Rocks, miniature ceramic structures (such as buildings and bridges), and figures are often added to indicate scale as part of the natural setting. These miniatures contribute to the symbolism of the penjing specimen by providing a historical and social context in which to interpret the penjing's overall design.
These miniature landscapes feature trees that are often over a hundred years old. Like the plants in Chinese gardens, the species used in these miniatures have been carefully selected and treated so that they develop tortuous and contorted forms reminiscent of their full-size counterparts in nature. As is the case with Chinese gardens, these miniature landscapes have been designed to reproduce landscapes observed from various vantage points: a close-up, an overview, or a panorama.
As an art form, penjing is an extension of the garden, allowing the artist to recreate parts of the natural landscape in miniature. Penjing is often used indoors as part of an overall garden design, reproducing the characteristics of the landscape found outdoors. Pots of penjing can decorate pavilions, private studies or halls, as well as public buildings. They are either stand-alone elements of the garden or are placed on furniture such as tables or shelves. Sometimes a latticework display is constructed to give special importance to the penjing specimen and illustrate the interaction between nature and architecture.
The Penjing aims to capture the essence and spirit of nature through its contrasts. Philosophically, it is influenced by the principles of Taoism , and more specifically by the concept of yin and yang : the idea that the universe is governed by two primary, opposing but complementary forces. Some of the elements of contrast used in the penjing include the depiction of "domination and subordination, emptiness and substance, density and dispersion, height and lowness, greatness and smallness, life and death, dynamism and immobility, roughness and meticulousness, firmness and gentleness, clarity and darkness, straightness and curvature, verticality and horizontality, [...] and lightness and heaviness."
Design inspirations are not limited to the observation or representation of nature, but are also influenced by Chinese poetry , calligraphy, and other visual arts. Penjing designs often include dragons and strokes of auspicious characters . At its most advanced level, the artistic value of penjing is equivalent to that of poetry , calligraphy , ink drawings , and garden art.
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