Japanese Flower Arrangements

The Japanese were heavily influenced by the Chinese in many aspects of their culture, including flower arranging. The formalization of Japanese flower arranging came from the devotion of Japanese masters, who took basic artistic methods and developed new forms, also setting up schools which became workshops for developing the art.

The origins of flower arranging in Japan can be traced back to the sixth century, where the Japanese people would offer flowers to Buddhist temples as a ritual. In these rituals, the arrangements were made in a way where the flowers and branches pointed towards heaven.

The term for the art of Japanese flower arranging is ikebana. It also is referred to as kado, which means the way of the flowers, and it is a traditional art in Japan. There are four different styles of Japanese flower arranging: rikka (standing flowers), nagerie (throwing in), shokai (living flowers) and moribana (heaped flowers).

Rikka, a more sophisticated style of Japanese flower arranging, was developed in the 15th century. Symbolism is very important in these arrangements. The flowers are made to depict the Buddhist belief about the universe. This style is rarely practiced today.

Shokai arrangements are generally elegant and dignified. This type of arrangement is meant to express the feeling of life, growing energy and natural beauty of the elements; it is important to understand how the plants would grow in nature. The vase should be symmetrical.
Moribana, the simplest of all the styles, is a modern style of Japanese flower arranging. The vases are usually wide-mouthed and often flat. Moribana is divided into three sub-styles: Chokutai (upright), Shatai (slanting) and Suitai (cascading).
Nagerie is another modern take on Japanese flower arranging. The vases are usually cylindrical, tall and narrow-mouthed. The flowers should be freely arranged and are usually leaning in the vase, though Nagerie is also divided into the same three sub-styles as Moribana.

Japanese people have a deep respect for nature and flowers are an important part of their art. Many Japanese homes have a special alcove dedicated to flower arrangements so they can show the changing of the seasons. People in Japan also take trips to view flowers and trees in the different seasons.

Many flowers in Japanese flower arranging have special meanings:

Lotus flower: this flower blooms in midsummer and is a symbol of truth, perfection and immortality. Buddhists consider this flower to be a symbol of Buddha's life.
Peony: this is called the flower of twenty days because of its short blooming season. Considered a symbol of prosperity, this flower is mostly enjoyed by the upper class.
Morning Glory: this is a flower associated with mortality because of its short life.
Chrysanthemum: this is the flower of autumn. It is a symbol of longevity because it blooms longer than most flowers.
Pine: this is the hardiest of all evergreens. In Japanese flower arranging, the thick branches are used to convey the idea of a strong and happy old age. For this reason, pine is present at most celebrations.

Japanese flower arranging is different from Western arranging because Americans tend to emphasize the quantity and color of the flowers, paying more attention to the beauty of the blossoms. Japanese flower arranging emphasizes the linear parts of the arrangement. These arrangements include the vase, stems, leaves, branches and flowers together to create the whole piece of art. Japanese flowering arranging is based on three main lines that symbolize heaven, earth and humankind.

It helps to learn some basics about Japanese flower arranging in order to try it in your own home:

• Let the flowers and foliage embrace the vase or container they are in.
• The stem length should vary.
• Centralize the stem.
• Avoid crossed stems.