Art of flower arrangement
Flower arrangement is an art of Japanese origin.
The flower arrangement expert creates the work as a three-dimensional artwork.
Flowers, grasses or branches of the trees are used, and a work is made by combining them.
And the most suitable vase, flower bowl, or the other vessel is selected for the work.
In Japanese it is called "ikebana" or "kadou".
"Ikebana" means simply "arranging flowers in a vase".
But "kadou" means "way of flower arranging", so it has a meaning of training.
Flower arrangement was established by Buddhist monks in Kyoto around the 15th century.
After that, it was spread in among from upper class people to common people, and many schools were born.
In the 19th century, it was introduced to Europe.
Types of arrangement
- Tatebana : It's an arrangement of the oldest type.
It is arranged with standing some branches of a tree with blossoms in a vase. - Chabana : It was devised for an arrangement for tea ceremony. ("Cha" means "tea".)
It is arranged naturally with a few flowers which don't have a strong odor and color. - Shouka : It's most popular arrangement.
Basically, 3 flowers are stood on a slant in a vase, then they are arranged in an inequilateral triangle. - Moribana : It was devised in the 19th century.
Some flowers are arrangement in a shallow bowl instead of a vase.
Because of wide space, various expression is possible. - Jiyuuka : It`s was born in the 20th century.
It is an unconventional arrangement, and is made by free ideas.
Seeing art of flower arrangement
An exhibition of flower arrangement
Because live plants are used in flower arrangement, the lifetime of a work is very short.
So the works are sometimes exhibited for a limited time only in several galleries.
Then we can sometimes find it at hotel lobby etc. as original interior decor.
And, there are some major traditional schools of flower arrangement.
The official websires are the followings.