Category: General

December 25 may be the most quiet day in the year in the US, with most stores closed.

When I went to Seattle Art Museum downtown only a day after Christmas to display Ikebana, I was somehow expecting less people there.  Well, I was wrong!  Many people take days off between Christmas and the New Year, and both tourists and local people do visit museums, seems like.  While I was making the ikebana arrangement, quite a few people stopped to take a look at what I was doing.

For the last week of 2018, the theme of my arrangement is “to welcome the new year.”

The New Year is the largest holiday in Japan.  So I chose the color combinations that are mostly used for celebratory occasions: red and white, and gold and silver.

The cords I used for gold and silver is called Mizuhiki.  There are many different types of knotting for different occasions.  If you would like to learn about different kinds of knotting, this Japanese website might be helpful.

The arrangement will be in display through the New Year’s Eve.  If you happen to visit Seattle Art Museum, please stop by in front of the Asian Collection on the 3^rd floor.

Thank you very much for reading this blog.  I wish you a happy 2019!

 

In my introductory class, I always start with “What does the word Ikebana mean?” I have mentioned it in my previous blog post as well, so I hope you visit it also.

Yes, Ikebana is about you, the creator, the artist.  In Ikebana, your canvas  is not a flat sheet of paper or cloth.  It’s the three dimensional space in front of you. And flowers are media to be used to express yourself. Let’s take a closer look at the media.

Line

Cut out of the nature, branches and flowers have some shape.  It may be straight or it may be curved, but after all the most abstract form you see in them is line. With only one line, you can express direction, movement, or energy flow. With two lines you can create surface. With three lines, you can create a structure in the three-dimensional world.

Mass

Some flowers have substantial volume.  Some have sparse look.  Likewise, some branches are covered with thick leaves, some have very thin leaves. Mass or absence of mass, is another element you use to express yourself.

Color

Just for fun, here is the photo of the same Ikebana arrangement, in black and white.  In photography I kind of like it. But in Ikebana canvas, you can’t eliminate colors. They are always there, so let’s use them.  Want to make a strong statement through Ikebana? Then use contrasting colors.  Want to express harmony?  Then choose similar colors.

Line, mass, and color… They are the three basic elements of Ikebana.

Whether at a museum like Seattle Art Museum or at an event like Cherry Blossom Festival, it is delightful to see beautiful Ikebana arrangements lined up.

Usually there is a sign in front of the arrangement, indicating which Ikebana school the artist belongs to.  Some of the work is so traditional that you can clearly identify which school.  Others are more free style and not so distinct. Some are small and simple, others are large and gorgeous.  While you walk through browsing each one of them, you find yourself becoming an Ikebana critique, murmuring “Oh, I like this one.” Or “Wow, I’ve never thought of combining these two flowers.”

The main reason why we host Ikebana exhibitions like the one held this weekend at SAM, no doubt, is to share the beauty of Ikebana with many people. If people enjoy themselves, we are so happy.

But do you know who benefits most from Ikebana?

The very person who made the arrangement!

You select a container and the flowers.  The order depends upon the person or the situation.  The peony in your backyard is full bloom so you would like to use it, so you look for a container that goes well with it.  Or you newly purchased a nice container and you would like to create something using it.  For whatever the reason, you made a selection.

Then you sit in front of the material. You clean the branch, hold it vertical, horizontally, or slanting.  You bring it forward, or backward.  In relation to the container, which line looks most beautiful?  Most striking?

Once you selected the direction, then you contemplate the length of the material.  How long? How short? How think?  You add another material, and another, and another…..

Sometimes you create something exactly what you imagined beforehand.  But often times you end up encountering what you have never imagined before.  What a nice surprise!

The whole process of arranging flowers is, just meditative.

Photo: Sogetsu.or.jp

Sogetsu School was founded in 1927 by Sofu Teshigahara. Compared with Ikenobo and other Ikebana schools, Sogetsu is among the newest.  It emphasizes that ikebana can be enjoyed “anytime, anywhere, by anyone.”

Sogetsu School’s basic curriculum is made up with two steps. The first step is to study several styles called “kakei.” After experimenting and mastering these kakei, students move to experiment free styles with various themes. Themes include such as “movement,” “color,” and “pattern.”

Sogetsu textbooks are written both in Japanese and in English, and there are many branches or study groups worldwide. In North America alone there are 48 branches or study groups.

More than 20 years ago I came across Sogetsu. It was my first business trip back to Japan after I moved to Seattle.  I was browsing at a bookstore, not looking for a book of any particular subject, let alone about Ikebana. It still remains a mystery to me why I picked up that book, but one sentence stood out in it. “Things aren’t the same once you have ikebana in your room.”  The title of the book was The Sogetsu for Beginners.

Well, not only in my room. Things aren’t the same once I have ikebana in my life, really. How different? That’s something you have to experience yourself.  I encourage you to at least try Ikebana once!

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Unshin Ohara was first studying Ikenobo ikebana in Osaka. In 1895 he came up with a new style called Moribana, using a shallow and wider container and a kenzan. He also used many flowers that started to be imported to Japan after the country opened its doors to the western world.

With his new Moribana style and use of new western flowers, Unshin branched out from Ikenobo and established his own Ohara School in 1910.

At first many people criticized Unshin about his diversion from the traditional ikebana styles, but the public appreciated its versatility. Moribana matches Japan’s modern lifestyle, and now Ohara School has grown to having 148 chapters in Japan and 56 chapters overseas.

The first lesson that you would learn at Ohara School is called “tateru katachi” or rising form. I found a You Tube video describing this lesson, both in Japanese and in English.

Here is a video in Japanese by the headmaster Hiroki Ohara.

This video is in English.

Interested in taking Ohara ikebana lessons? Ohara School’s website lists up all the chapters outside Japan. I hope you will find one near you.

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Misho School (未生流) was founded in 1807 by Ippo Mishosai in Osaka. It is believed that the founder chose Osaka, not Edo (Tokyo’s old name) which was the political center, because he wanted to be free from authoritative powers.

Misho Shcool’s philosophy is “KyoJitsu Tobun”, meaning the nature itself is not complete but with human being’s involvement the fundamental beauty is achieved.    Misho School also combines the concept of geometry and the Yin-Yan and the five elements (tree, fire, earth, metal, and water).

Misho School’s traditional flower style is called Kakubana.   In the early 20th century Misho School added Shinbana style.

The current headmaster Keiho Hihara is the 10th generation.

Interested in learning Misho School ikebana? Currently they have classes in Vancouver BC, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland, but not in the US.

Among those who learned ikebana while living in Japan was Mrs. Ellen Gordon Allen, the wife of General Frank Allen.

The United States National Arboretum website introduces Mrs. Allen as below.

“She was captivated by the philosophical and aesthetic elements of ikebana that stressed harmonic relationships. Mrs. Allen earned her Teachers Certificate from the Ohara School and began teaching ikebana.

She turned her mimeographed lessons into a small book, Japanese Flower Arrangement: A Complete Primer, which saw a number of printings. As she taught, she became determined to share her passion for this traditional art form throughout the world.

In 1956, she worked with ikebana school masters in Tokyo to found Ikebana International. She dreamed of spreading the practice of ikebana, believing that its principles would help foster greater world peace. She stated the organization’s motto as “Friendship through Flowers.” Mrs. Allen returned to Washington, D.C., and helped found Chapter No. 1.”

Ikebana International (I.I.) had only 1 chapter with 20 members when Mrs. Allen founded it. Sixty years later, now there are over 7,600 members with 161 chapters in over 50 countries!

Each chapter is affiliated with the head quarter but has its own activities. The Seattle Chapter #19, of which I’m a member, was chartered in 1959, and currently there are almost 100 members. Its activities include demonstration of flower arranging, exhibitions, lectures/programs on related arts, tours, and workshops where one can study Ikebana under the direction of various school Masters.

Its public exhibitions include Northwest Flower and Garden Show in February, Cherry Blossom Festival in April, Annual Exhibition in May, Japan Fair in July, Japan Week in the fall.

The I.I. Seattle Chapter #19 members voluntarily place ikebana arrangements at the Seattle Art Museum all year round.

There may be an Ikebana International chapter in your city. Would you like to know if there is a chapter in your city? Here is the list of current chapters around the world. Please check it out!

As a member of Ikebana International myself, I thank Mrs. Allen for founding this wonderful organization.

As mentioned in What Is The Origin of Ikebana, ikebana as we know it dates back at least to 1462.  You might wonder how it has survived over 500 years and many people (like me!) still enjoy practicing it.

As you can imagine, over the long course of history, ikebana faced many difficulties.  Once it gained popularity, and other times it almost became extinct.  Whenever it faced difficulty, ikebana found new audience and spread again.

Samurais and aristocrats – its original fans

Ikebana gained its popularity first among samurais and aristocrats in Japan. During the Edo period (1603 – 1863), ikebana also became popular among ordinary people. Both men and women used to enjoy it.

Ikebana crisis in 19^th century

When Meiji period started and Japan opened its doors to the West at the end of the 19th century, people in Japan considered ikebana as outdated and it lost its popularity. With Meiji Restoration, Buddhist temples and samurai clans, both of ikebana’s main patrons, lost their prestige that they had once enjoyed. With no powerful patrons and very little interest among the public, ikebana was at the verge of extinction.

In the beginning of the 20th century, ikebana regained its popularity, with new audience. The Meiji government positioned ikebana and tea ceremony as two important subjects that young women should study at school. In most girls’ schools that were newly established in that period, ikebana became a compulsory subject. Since then, a notion that ikebana is practiced by women rather than men has prevailed.

New crisis for Ikebana

Ikebana faced with another crisis during World War II. The military-led government back then considered any art such as ikebana as unimportant or even as “evil extravagance.”

How Ikebana speed around the world

Once World War II was over, people were hungry for artistic freedom.  When the flower exhibition was held in Tokyo in November 1945, only three months after the end of the war, so many people came to see the show.

Ikebana also found new audience.

While Japan was occupied by the allies, many military officials were assigned to Japan from the US, and many brought their wives. Ikebana leaders in Japan in those years, including headmasters such as Sofu Teshigahara (Sogetsu School) and Houn Ohara (Ohara School), came up with a plan to hold ikebana classes for the wives of those military officials.

These wives took ikebana classes and obtained a teacher’s certificate while in Japan. So did wives of diplomats who were assigned to Japan from various countries. After returning to their own countries, those women started to teach ikebana in their own countries.

Although originated in Japan, now there are so many people enjoying ikebana around the world.  We have to thank those wives of diplomats and military officials for spreading this wonderful culture worldwide.

Ever since the human beings have existed on earth, we have been surrounded by plants. Blessed with relatively moderate climate with distinct four seasons, people in Japan have enjoyed various kinds of plants and flowers all year round.

Plants as Part of Religious Rituals

In the winter, most of the trees lose leaves and many plants disappear.  Pines trees, however, remain green.  The vivid green in the winter must represent the resilient life.  So Shito, Japan’s native religion, has used pine branches for its rituals, including the New Year’s decoration.

Plants were also used for in Buddhist rituals.  The typical flowers used in India, where Buddhism was originated, were lotus.  In Japan, the rituals were adapted to use various seasonal flowers.

Ikebana Patronized by Samurais

The origin of Ikebana as we see today dates back to Muromachi period in the 15th century. Ruling samurai clan started to build gorgeous houses with an alcove called “tokonoma”, a special space to display their precious treasures. The samurai showed off their ornate vases originated from China by decorating them on tokonoma. It was one of the tasks of “Dohoshu,” usually Buddhist monks who served Muromachi shogunate and other powerful samurai, to decorate the tokonoma with beautiful flowers and plants.

One day, Ikenobo Senkei （池坊専慶）, a Buddhist monk of Rokkakudo Temple in Kyoto was invited to a samurai’s residence and made a gorgeous flower decoration. It was so well received that one of the contemporary Buddhist monks wrote about the decoration in his journal!  Thanks to this monk, we know that it was precisely in 1462.

Hence Rokkakudo Temple is said to be the birth place of Ikebana, and Ikenobo School is said to be the origin of Ikebana.

When I first learned about Samurai in school, they were simply “professional worrier class.” Ikebana patronized by samurai clan…. Isn’t it interesting to find out new things in history?