Overview of Flower Arrangement
Known throughout the world as ikebana, Japanese flower arrangement is differentiated from Western arrangements by its asymmetry, its choice of materials (a higher proportion of branch and grass materials than flowers), and a conscious consideration of surrounding space and the principles of yin and yang.
The earliest flower arrangements in Japan were used as Buddhist offerings. One tall stem was placed vertically in a metal vase with two other stems placed symmetrically on either side of it. Flowers and plant material in general were regarded as conduits of the spirits of deities and the deceased.
Other than altar flowers, no systemized styles of flower arranging developed in Japan until the late 15th century, when Senkei, founder of the Ikenobo School, developed a secular style called rikka (standing flowers). Seven branches or stems (later nine) were arranged to represent Mt. Sumeru of Buddhist cosmology. Each branch was one element of a grand scene of nature, with the entire scene also divided into light and dark sides (yin and yang, or negative and positive). Rikka arrangements were popular from the 16th to 17th century in the decoration of alcoves in the grand homes and palaces of aristocrats and the ruling warrior elite, and the style spawned many schools.
With the emergence of Zen-inspired tea ceremony in the 16th century, a simple and austere form of arrangement was developed for contemplation in tea huts. The style is called nageire, and often involves only a single stem or flower bud placed in a hanging or standing vase, perhaps supported by one other simple stem. Development of this style is credited to tea master Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591), who advocated the use of wild flowers placed without artifice.
With the rise of the merchant class in the Edo period (1600-1868) a new style of arranging that combined the dignity of rikka with the simplicity of nageire developed called shoka (also called seika), and by the end of the 18th century it had become the most popular style. While rikka determined to depict the grandeur of nature, shoka respected the essence of the plants themselves and their natural line of growth. Shoka arrangements were formalized to consist of three main branches arranged in an asymmetrical triangle with supporting stems and branches. The three points became commonly known as ten (heaven), chi (earth), and jin (man).
In the modern period from 1868, new and less restrictive styles were created by such innovators as Ohara Unshin (1861-1914), who developed the style called moribana, using shallow wide-mouthed containers, and Teshigahara Sofu (1900-1979) who incorporated nonorganic materials including plastic and steel in his avant-garde arrangements. He started the Sogetsu school.
Though there are now up to 2,000 ikebana schools, the Ikenobo, Ohara and Sogetsu schools remain the most popular both in Japan and overseas. In addition, the independent Ikebana International organization is spreading Japanese flower art through 170 branches (as of 1998) worldwide.
