Japanese Flower Arranging Gains Popularity

Who would have thought that the art of Japanese Flower Arranging involved science and spirituality, I thought one just arranges the flowers in a nice looking bunch, what do I know...

The art of Japanese flower arranging is gaining popularity at a rapid pace. This unique art form involves the entire structure of the arrangement. Western designs typically focus on the flowers and not the function of the product as a whole. The Japanese flower arranging techniques also focus on three symbolic lines that represent heaven, earth and mankind.

The three representational lines are powerful symbols in Eastern culture and the use of them in Japanese flower arranging pays homage to the symbols. The process includes the stems, leaves branches as well as the flowers of the plant. In addition, the vase is also an integral part of the three lines.

Formerly known as ikebana, Japanese flower arranging has ancient roots that date back many centuries. Flowers were offered in Buddhist temples way back in the sixth century.

These early designs arranged the flowers and branches of the plants in a way that would point them towards the heavens. This deliberate arrangement represented the individual’s faith.

The ikebana flower arrangements were very rough and considered to be crude in design. Later, a more sophisticated style of Japanese flower arranging called rikka emerged. This more stylized form of the art came into popularity among this Far Eastern culture during the fifteenth century.

The rikka processes of Japanese flower arranging sought to capture the wonders of nature. The flowers were arranged to represent Mount Sumeru. This mountain is a mythical place that symbolizes the universe and there are many symbols involved in the rikka style as well.

Each element of the arrangement is symbolic in the rikka style of Japanese flower arranging. Water is typically represented by white chrysanthemums and pine branches are commonly used to represent stones or rocks. This form of Japanese flower arranging is now antiquated and is rarely used for ceremonies or for decorating in today’s society.

Today, Western culture has embraced Japanese flower arranging with great zeal. However, it is important to consider the history of the art form as well. During the late 1800’s, a new form of ikebana was developed.

The moribana style that emerged during this era seeks to capture a garden scene of other landscape scene in miniature form. This type of Japanese flower arranging had not gained great popularity over the nineteenth century but it is emerging in Western culture as an admired art form that can be used for formal events as well as casual affairs.

As you can see there are many facets to the art of Japanese flower arranging, if you would like to know more just do a simple search online and you will find a few websites which specialises in this art in great detail. 

Resources

Japanese Flowers - The most famous of all Japanese flowers would have to be the cherry blossom, or sakura in Japanese. It has come to symbolize the country itself. Their exquisite beauty and their brief flowering at the peak of spring have come to symbolize the nature of human life. I have only two photos for this page, partly because cherry blossoms are an overdone cliche, but partly because they seem to attract noisy drunks the way other flowers attract insects. Enjoy!

Ikebana - Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. Ikebana has a history that dates as far back as the 14th Century. Ikebana does not have one "standard". Over the centuries many schools of Ikebana developed, each with its own unique style. All the Ikebana schools  share similar inspirations, philosophy, history and techniques.

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