Today I have the pleasure of presenting before you something which is not only a housewife's delight, but something that brings a smile to the faces of most onlooker's. - Ikebana. Ikebana (literally "giving life to flowers") is the Japanese art of flower arrangement, in which the arrangement brings nature and humanity closer together. The shapes, forms and colors of the flowers are very important; but unlike western customs, emphasis is put on the flowers’ stems and leaves. Central to Ikebana are the essences of harmony, minimalism, symbolism and meaning of the arrangement.
History of Ikebana. Ikebana developed from Buddhist flower offering rituals dating back to the 6th century. Initially these offerings were informal, but it developed in Japan to more prescribed rituals in which flowers were presented in containers around the 10th century. In the 15th century these flower arrangements took off as an art form independent of its religious origins, originating in Kyoto (the Ikenobo School).
Ikebana flower arrangement styles. Ikebana developed through time from minimalistic arrangements to more contemporary and decorative designs. The first style dates back to the beginning of Ikebana and is called Kuge; it consisted of a tall upright placed stem, accompanied by two smaller stems. Other styles include:
• Rikka, standing flowers as a Buddhist expression of beauty and the arranged ways of nature.
• Chabana, rustic simplicity and minimalism, often used for tea ceremonies.
• Seika / Shoka, consisting of three branches representing heaven (ten), earth (chi) and man (jin).
• Jiyuka, creative design, not confined to flowers.
And, all this is symbolised by these four lovely stamps on this FDC issued by the Republic of China aka Taiwan in 1987.
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