Japanese flower arrangement
Flower arrangement in Japan is called Kadô.
Kadô originated floral offering by Buddhist monks in Kyoto around the 15th century.
After that, it was spread in upper class people, and many schools were born.
In the early 19th century, it spread among ordinary people.
In addition, it was introduced to Europe in the 1860s.
Kadô means "way of flower arranging", so it is an art achieved by training.
The creator makes a work according to the method and design of the school.
Another name meaning Japanese flower arrangement is Ikebana.
Ikebana means simply "flower arrangement".
Ikebana is a free work of flower arrangement using the method of a Kadô school.
So, Kadô is the work by flower arrangement expert, and Ikebana may be the work by common people.
Characteristics of Japanese flower arrangement
Western flower arrangement uses various colorful flowers and a lot of flowers are arranged symmetrically, beautifully and gorgeously.
It is mainly arranged to see from every angle, so it looks like an interior decoration.
On the other hand, in Japanese flower arrangement, only a few kind of plants are used.
The figures of the plants are expressed artistically, and the space made by the plants is also the object of the work.
It is mainly arranged to see from one side and is put against a plain wall, so it looks like a Japanese painting.
Flowers, blossoms, grasses, branches of tree, etc. are used, and a work is made by combining a few kinds of them.
For the vessel, various types of vase, basin, etc. are used, and the materials are pottery, glass, metal, lacquer ware, etc.
To make the plants stand on a flat vessel, pinholder called "kenzan" is also used as a tool.
Types of arrangement
- Rikka : It's an arrangement of the oldest type by Ikenobo school.
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.