What is Ikebana




Ikebana (Oriental Flower Arrangement)

Flower art has three basic elements: the floral material, the container and the surrounding environment. All three must be selected with utmost care and consideration of how they work together. You must practice flower arrangement as frequently as possible to develop your techniques and achieve a polished, high-level work of art. However, techniques are ultimately no more than the means of expressing the feelings that matter most. In flower arrangement, a person's heart is reflected in his or her work, so building one's character is the most important part of mastering this art.

Asian people prefer to be modest in expressing feelings of anger or joy, but these feelings are sublimated and clearly expressed in flower arrangements, which also change their expression to reflect the seasons and prevalent colors, as well as relevant literary and historical significance.




    



The Art of Ikebana (Oriental Flower Arrangement)

Since olden times, Orientals have loved nature above all else. Harmonizing themselves with nature, they sought in it beauty and realized in it a means of enjoying life. Therefore, it is only natural that they elevated flower arrangement to a traditional art. The superb vases of celadon and white porcelain that remain from these days tell us of their boundless enjoyment of flower arrangement. Also pictures of flower arrangements depicted on old scrolls prove that the "Rule of Three" was strictly followed. One can easily imagine how artistically they treated flowers from the fact that the flower arrangements are shown carefully placed on a special stand.

The art of flower arrangement has three essential elements. First, the materials, container, surroundings and occasion must be chosen with accurate judgment. Never spare effort in gathering suitable materials and containers. Second, the art of flower arrangement can only be attained by repetition of study with devoted eagerness. Third, as the manner in which the flowers are arranged is the expression of the ideas of the arranger, the cultivation of character is an inevitable necessity. Even though the same material may be used, compositions will all differ according to each arranger because of the difference in attitude, disposition, and technique. For this reason no two compositions give the same impression to the viewer. Some look merry, some dignified, or some even unpleasant.

Needless to say, flower arrangement being a plastic art, the people of the Orient have found it a fertile element in which to foster their innate sensitivity to natural beauty. With their delicate sense for seasonal change and traditional literature as a background, their emotions were conveyed in the art of flower arrangement through the qualities of "harmony," "respect," "stillness" and "tranquility."

Although flowers are a beautiful creation of nature, to master the art of flower arrangement is never an easy task. It is an art that requires never-ending love, effort and training.



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