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You may have seen them in flower shops and private homes; a small display of flowers displayed such a unique way that makes them stand out from all the others in the room. Simple yet complicated, you find yourself drawn to them by both their beauty and their symbolism - welcome to the intriguing world of Japanese Flower Arranging, or Ikebana.
The word "ikebana" is Japanese for "make flowers come alive" - the object being for the artist to arrange the flowers to give off the sensation that they are not dead items being displayed, but still alive and growing and giving their essence off to the viewer.
Many years ago folk religions throughout the world used flowers and trees to mark special sites where offering and sacrifices were made to their gods; with Japan being no exception. But in the sixth century A.D. Buddhism was introduced to the Japanese; channeling this creativity in another direction and giving birth to the first type of special flower arranging - Nageire.
Nageire arrangements have three main parts. These consist of a single dominant branch with two lesser partners - shin, soe and tai - with tai being the least dominant of the three. Around these three pieces the rest of the flowers are added, giving a natural feel to the arrangement while projecting a sense of life and beauty to the viewer.
As Japan fell into a cycle of civil war the art of ikebana continues to expand and evolve as the average person sought a cheap but efficient relief from the constant warfare at their front door. The Japanese Tea Ceremony integrated a simple form of Nageire into its ceremony, called Chabana. Simpler even than the Nageire style, it often consisted of only a single flower strategically placed to add to the ceremony and create a unique atmosphere for the participants.
As time went on power shifted eventually from the military to the common public and a demand grew for even a simpler form of Ikebana to be created, small and available to the average person who didn't have a large front yard or special rooms to display their creations. The result was Shoka - a hybrid of the simple creativity of Nageira and taking from the ritualistic and upperclass style of Rikka; common among the nobility.
Rikka sought to recreate a small portion of the cosmos by using elements to show the sacred mountain (Mt. Fuji -common to Japanese art of all styles); a waterfall with accompanying smaller mountains and representations of towns and villages, the entire scene lit to symbolize the Yin and Yang with sun and shade covering equal portions of the yard at all times. Obviously if you didn't have a large yard or enough space for such creations, you had to either find the space or content yourself with smaller creations. Thus the Shoka style took off like wildfire for the average person.
Many years before any talk of the women's movement began, Ikebana straddled the barrier between the sexes and became primarily a women's art in the late 1800's; becoming a main requirement of almost any and every women in Japan.
As time went on and more Western influences came into Japan and more Japanese influences traveled West, Ikebana traveled around the world; captivating audiences who were astonished at this creative use of the common flower and tree. Far from the complicated bouquets and arrangements displayed in Europe, the Ikebana display caught the eye and the soul of the person looking for a simpler and less flamboyant art form.
In the late 1800's a new form of Ikebana evolved from this contact with the West - Moribana. Drawing from the same basic ingredients as Nageire, Moribana consisted of the arrangement being placed in a low, wide vase unlike the Nageire style. Moribana means a mounding or piling up of materials; showing in a word the final result of the arrangement where the sense of three dimensions would be shown in a creative and captivating way.
Eventually another style crept into Ikebana as the twentieth century began - Jikuya, or the freestyle approach. Obviously open to much more creativity than the previous styles, it has become the catchall of Ikebana where any arrangement not meeting the standards or requirements of the previous strict styles falls into the Jikuya circle. In Jikuya the intention is to express the artist's idea or invoke an emotion whereas the other forms keep to the original intent of Ikebana - to capture and reflect the natural beauty of the flower even after it has been cut and is technically dead.
No matter which form you like, Ikebana is alive and thriving in the West and in the East, where displays are held constantly to promote this unique and creative art form. Classes are available for the beginner to learn the basics and start creating their own masterpieces for their homes or as gifts; expanding their artistic gifts far beyond the average bouquet of flowers purchased at the corner store. Why not see for yourself what Ikebana can offer you and your family as you explore your creative skills?
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