Ikebana (flower arrangement) in Japan
In the previous entry titled "Tea ceremony in Japan", I wrote about history of Matcha; Powdered Green tea, used for tea ceremony and variety of styles for tea ceremony in Japan.
Tea ceremony is big part of our Japanese culture, and flower arrangement; I-ke-ba-na in Japanese), is also big part of Japanese culture.
Flower arrangement (I-ke-ba-na) is art of traditional flower arrangement and just like tea ceremony styles, there are variety of styles for the flower arrangement.
Originally, in Japan, flower was arranged where gods were welcomed or used as offerings at Buddhist altars.
When tea ceremony became popular, flower was arranged in the tea room and, there are 3 major styles for flower arrangement in Japan;I-ke no bo-u, O-ha-ra, and So-u ge-tsu.
History behind variety of flower arrangement styles
I-ke-no-bo-u;
According to Japan zone website, I-ke-no-bo-u was funded by Buddhist priest "Ikenobou Senkei" back in 15th century.
Ikenobou has created the rikka (standing flowers) style, and it was developed as a beauty of nature;seven branches represent hills,waterfalls,valleys etc in formalized way.
Rikka style was originally used for religious occasions.However, later, it became the display for tokonoma (built-in recessed space in Japanese reception room) or for alcove.
O-ha-ra;
O-ha-ra style was created by Ohara Unshin in late 19th century when he broke from I-ke-no-bo-u style school.
O-ha-ra has created the Mo-ri-ba-na (piled up flowers) style in a shallow flat container.
Vase size= diameter of mouth of vase + height of the vase
Mo-ri-ba-na style arrange flowers in the shape of 3 points of shi-n (center), so-e (support), and hi-ka-e (overall balance); heaven (leader), earth (subordinate) and man (one to keep harmony in between).
These three elements are called Sa-n sa-i ( harmony between nature and man).
So-u-ge-tsu;
So-u-ge-tsu style was created in 1927 by Sufu Tashigahara with the belief that ikebana should be both enjoyable and creative and use variety of tools to create the flower arrangement works.
Tools for I-ke-ba-na
Scissors,small saw, ki-ri-fu-ki (atomizer), pitcher, ke-n-za-n (spiked holder), su-i-ba-n (basin), tsu-bo (pot shaped vase), Tsu-tsu (cylindrical vase), ka-go (basket), compote etc..
To read full article on i-ke-ba-na at Japanese zone website,please click here.
To read more on so-u-ge-tsu style of i-ke-ba-na at sogetsu soho study group,please click here.
With next entry on I-ke-ba-na Part II, I will show you what kinds of technique is used for flower arrangement.
Tea ceremony is big part of our Japanese culture, and flower arrangement; I-ke-ba-na in Japanese), is also big part of Japanese culture.
Flower arrangement (I-ke-ba-na) is art of traditional flower arrangement and just like tea ceremony styles, there are variety of styles for the flower arrangement.
Originally, in Japan, flower was arranged where gods were welcomed or used as offerings at Buddhist altars.
When tea ceremony became popular, flower was arranged in the tea room and, there are 3 major styles for flower arrangement in Japan;I-ke no bo-u, O-ha-ra, and So-u ge-tsu.
History behind variety of flower arrangement styles
I-ke-no-bo-u;
According to Japan zone website, I-ke-no-bo-u was funded by Buddhist priest "Ikenobou Senkei" back in 15th century.
Ikenobou has created the rikka (standing flowers) style, and it was developed as a beauty of nature;seven branches represent hills,waterfalls,valleys etc in formalized way.
Rikka style was originally used for religious occasions.However, later, it became the display for tokonoma (built-in recessed space in Japanese reception room) or for alcove.
O-ha-ra;
O-ha-ra style was created by Ohara Unshin in late 19th century when he broke from I-ke-no-bo-u style school.
O-ha-ra has created the Mo-ri-ba-na (piled up flowers) style in a shallow flat container.
Vase size= diameter of mouth of vase + height of the vase
Mo-ri-ba-na style arrange flowers in the shape of 3 points of shi-n (center), so-e (support), and hi-ka-e (overall balance); heaven (leader), earth (subordinate) and man (one to keep harmony in between).
These three elements are called Sa-n sa-i ( harmony between nature and man).
So-u-ge-tsu;
So-u-ge-tsu style was created in 1927 by Sufu Tashigahara with the belief that ikebana should be both enjoyable and creative and use variety of tools to create the flower arrangement works.
Tools for I-ke-ba-na
Scissors,small saw, ki-ri-fu-ki (atomizer), pitcher, ke-n-za-n (spiked holder), su-i-ba-n (basin), tsu-bo (pot shaped vase), Tsu-tsu (cylindrical vase), ka-go (basket), compote etc..
To read full article on i-ke-ba-na at Japanese zone website,please click here.
To read more on so-u-ge-tsu style of i-ke-ba-na at sogetsu soho study group,please click here.
With next entry on I-ke-ba-na Part II, I will show you what kinds of technique is used for flower arrangement.
Comments