There’s lots of ways to show Shohin. The most traditional is the box stand.View attachment 163059
Thanks for offering us a glimps of that maple @Adair M ! No, I can't say I have ever seen it before.
So can a shohin/mame...be shown alone in a say...3 point display or always needing a grand set up such as what you showed with the shohin?
The reason they’re shown in groups is they’re small, and there’s not enough elements to hold your attention for very long. By grouping them together, you can play with things like movement, Leaf variations, pots, little stands, flowers, fruit, etc.
So, “showing Shohin” evolved into a game of more than just showing the trees, the “showing” aspect has become a big part of Shohin.
Shohin are really never shown alone. Three part display with two trees and an accent (or a scroll), yes. There are several variations on the “box” stands. Some, like mine, are designed for 5 trees. Others for 4, the “half moon” style for 2 and an accent.
Bill Valavanis posted all the trees and displays of the National Shohin Show in a blog. If I can find the link, I’ll post it.