Flower Arranging - IKEBANA

IKEBANA Flower Arranging

Ikebana is a Japanese method of flower arranging. Japanese ikebana aims to create harmonious, linear arrangements in harmony with nature and colours in a simple construction and rhythm. It differs from European arranging, which emphasizes quantity and colours. Ikebana pays equal attention to the vase, stems, leaves and branches as it does to the flowers. Japanese flower arranging is based on three main points that symbolize heaven, earth and humanity.

There are several types of ikebana - tall, low, triangular or round. According to styles, they are divided into:

• Ukibana (also moribana) – flowers arranged in a bowl with water, so-called "floating flowers", where at least half of the water surface remains free. This is an ikebana designed to be viewed from above.
• Shikibana is created with plants with short or no stems on a tray without water. The flowers here only decoratively lie as "lying flowers". Plants used include ivy, camellia, carnation, cherry laurel, chrysanthemum.
• Morimono – a combination of flowers and fruit or vegetables arranged in flat containers "anything in a bowl". Here the contrast of colours, shape and texture of plants is utilized.
• Kakebana – ikebana in hanging containers.
• Oshibana – ikebana made from dried flowers.
• Keishiki – ikebana made from meadow flowers, with a countryside motif.
• Mini-ikebana – ikebana using a single flower.
• Moribana - "flood of flowers" - natural composition of carefully selected flowers. Arranging in low and flat containers.
• Nageire - arrangement of shoots in a tall vase secured using parts of twigs fixed approximately 2 cm below the rim of the container.
• Seika - one-sided and ceremonial flower arrangement in a formal asymmetrical composition in the shape of a triangle, used in tea ceremonies.

This unconventional decoration is an increasingly popular decoration. Try it yourself too. On your walks or in your garden, notice interesting twigs or pebbles. If you grow interesting vegetables, try using them in a decorative still life. Try to create something beautiful from practically nothing in today's hectic times. A small twig or shell in ikebana will always remind you of a nice trip or holiday. Everything will be enhanced by fresh flowers.

Now, as cultures penetrate each other more, we are all more travelled, we want to try new things, styles, perspectives on life - an adaptive style has emerged, more avant-garde and freer, which anyone can master. It is limited only by one's own imagination.

What Do You Need to Create Ikebana?

First and foremost, you'll need a beautiful bowl (it can easily be a glass bowl you use for salad or a leftover bowl from bonsai making), several green branches, interesting flowers, and oasis – floral foam into which the decorative flowers are inserted.

With ikebana, you always decide in advance whether it will be three-dimensional, for example on a kitchen table where you'll see it from all sides, or one-sided, placed on a window sill, furniture, or desk. Based on this, you select the flowers and their placement in the ikebana. Prepare a bowl or tray, place the floral foam on it, and let it absorb water. Prepare branches, grasses, flowers, or herbs, ideally in similar shades, and perhaps one in a contrasting color. In any case, the choice is yours, also depending on the interior placement – whether it will harmonize colorfully or whether one color will dominate. However, there's no need to overcomplicate your ikebana. On your desk, you can simply place a glass or ceramic candle holder and insert a rose flower into it.

Ikebana – Origins and Philosophy

Ikebana - the origin of this word comes from the Japanese words IKE (to keep alive) and HANA (pronounced: bana - flower). The roots of ikebana are in China, from where they penetrated Japan in the 6th century. Initially, they were decorations for temple altars. In the beginning, creating ikebana was the domain of men. Flower arranging in Japan is different from what we do in Europe. We arrange flowers to decorate our homes. Ikebana sees the main significance in the creative activity, during which you can contemplate and meditate. Ikebana became part of the tea ceremony in the 16th century. Flowers arranged for the tea ceremony and the specific style of their arrangement is called Chabana. Observing a finished ikebana is primarily about a feeling of well-being and peace of mind. The Japanese approach flower arranging in a great state of mind. They relax and stress cannot affect their minds. We "people of the Western world," always in a hurry, will never be able to understand and feel it the way the Japanese do.

Ikebana, as one of the few Japanese arts, has spread throughout the entire world, and its principles are studied and actively used worldwide. We can thus encounter ikebana in hotels, shopping centers, representative spaces, and ikebana courses are opening up.

Creating Your Own Ikebana

Nevertheless, nothing should discourage us from creating something beautiful, interesting, and uplifting. Playing with beauties from our garden, flower bed, or meadow and preserving the flowers fresh and arranged as long as possible like a painting or sculpture that will have something of our personality or current mood imprinted in it. From Japanese arrangers, adopt these two essential pieces of advice - don't be overly critical and refrain from abrupt movements.

Author: Hana Michalíková