Japanese Flower Arrangement - IKEBANA

Japanese Flower Arrangement or also known as IKEBANA is more than simply putting flower in a container. It is Japanese traditional of art about decorating as well creating a harmony between human and nature. In Ikebana the art is include the vase or container, stems, leave, branches and flowers. Each of them has meaning.

Ikebana decorating can reflected our mood, it can be made which such theme line, for example when we are happy the decorating can be made as merry as we want just like our mood.

The history of Japanese flower arrangement can be track back when Buddhism was introduced to Japan.  Ikebana evolved from the Buddhist ritual of offering flowers to the spirits of the dead on the altar as part of worship.

At the beginning Ikebana was very simple, it was constructed only a very few stems of flowers and evergreen branches. This kind of decorating called Kuge. A more sophisticated style of Japanese flower arrangement, called Rikka (standing flowers), appeared in the fifteenth century. Ikebana with Rikka style reflects the magnificence of nature and its display.

Basically, IKEBANA has some styles:

Rikka Style, using 9 main branches. Ikebana – Rikka has one core basic branch and from this core can be made simply just like our mood during the time.

Shoka Style, using 3 main branches. Ikebana – Shoka was found as the development of Rikka which was considered to be more complicated. Seika or Shōka style consists of only three main branches, known as ten (heaven), 'chi' (earth), and 'jin' (human). It is a simple style that is designed to show the beauty and uniqueness of the plant itself.

Nagaire Style. The typical of Ikebana – Nagaire is using a tall container or vase. The style is characterized by a tight bundle of stems that form a triangular three-branched asymmetrical arrangement which was considered classic.

Moribana Style.  It was born when Meiji restoration. The typical of Ikebana – Moribana is using a lower or medium container.

Nowadays Japanese flower arrangement not only made by fresh flowers but also silk flower. Ikebana not only confined with flowers but every material can be used such as plastic, metal, stone.