IKEBANA is from the Japanese IKERU (keep alive, arrange flowers, living) and HANA (flower), means
“giving life to flowers” and “arranging flowers”.
More than simply putting flowers in a container, IKEBANA respects harmony with nature. Compared with western
style of flower arranging, in Ikebana more plants and branches are used.
The spiritual aspect of IKEBANA is considered very important to its practitioners.
Silence during practices of IKEBANA is a time to appreciate things in nature. People often overlook because of
their busy lives.
You become more patient and tolerant of differences, not only in nature, but also in general. IKEBANA can inspire
you to identify with beauty in all art forms. This is also the time when you feel closeness to nature which provides
relaxation for the mind, body and soul.
The precise origin of IKEBANA is unknown, it is thought to come to Japan as part of
Buddhist practice in the 6th century. Then, Ikebana became an establisched art form
around the 16th century. Many schools were founded by head masters and many
different styles of flower arranging were introduced. The Ikenobo school, founded by
Senkei Ikenobo in the mid-15th century, is thought to be the oldest Ikebana-school,
still exist and is a leading school of Ikebana in Japan.
In the 20th century, with the advent of modernism, the modern Ikebana style was created
by new schools. One of them, the Ohara-School introduced the Moribana style with the idea
of Bonsai creating a miniature landscape on a tray.
The master of this school, Souun Ohara, published text books and he and the members
of his school exhibited their flower arrangements at shopping malls, and Ikebana
became accessible to everyone. Now, there are over 2000 schools in Japan and spread
around the world.
Ikenobo introduced upright style "Rikka (or Seika)" style and "Shouka (or Seika)" style. In Rikka style, flowers
and plants were arranged in an upright position. It is very decorative.
In the late 17th century, a new style, Shouka appeared. This style simplified the rules of the Rikka style.
Three main flowers or plants or branches create a triangle, each symbolizing "heaven", "earth" and
"mankind" to express harmony between man and nature.
< SHOUKA style >
< RIKKA style >