& Basic Styles of ikebana

Flowers are too familiar to our lives. Every day we look at bouquets of flowers, arrange beautiful vases; however, not many people are interested in the meaning of these flowers. But for the Japanese, flowers carry an important meaning and is different depending on the case and event.

The Japanese are famous for the art of flower arrangement. They focus mainly on the lines and harmony of the flowers. The art of Ikebana is commonly known as Kadou. This art form has appeared for hundreds of years in Japan and is one of the famous traditional art forms in the world. In particular, Ikebana has up to 5 different basic flower arrangements. Each style has its own nuance and beauty.

STYLE Rikka

This is the earliest style of flower arrangement and is still popular to this day. Rikka means vertical flower arrangement. The requirement of this type is that the vase used must be tall and large, while flowers must be placed in the vase in an upright position. Rikka embodies the beauty of nature. A Rikka vase always has 7 branches representing hills, waterfalls, valleys and other things in nature.

The design of the Rikka style is large, delicate and striking. The basic arrangement of the three flower spikes forms the frame for the petals. These flower spikes are usually well-proportioned. An average Rikka vase measures 3 to 5 times the height or width of the vase. Once the length of the main spike has been determined, the remaining spikes are proportional to the main stem. A finished Rikka vase will have a spherical shape.

STYLE Shoka

This is the most common style in the art of Ikebana. Shoka means “live flower”. In terms of the form, Shoka flower arrangement is quite simple, but expressing its full meaning is hard. A standardized Shoka vase is the convergence of 3 components: Ten, Chi and Jin which means Heaven, Earth and Human.

The height and length of the flower spikes must clearly indicate the position of the three factors above. People use the height of the vase as a standard. The tallest flower branch in the vase represents Heaven, and its height is equal to 3 times the height of the vase. The second flower branch represents the Human, only 2/3 as high as the highest flower branch while the lowest represents Earth, only 1/3. A flower vase properly arranged in Shoka style must meet the balance rules outlined above.

Shoka is simplified from Rikka’s vertical style to suit people from different social backgrounds. Shoka expresses the simple beauty of nature by using few branches and leaves but showing a rise towards the sun. Shoka follows the theory of Heaven - Earth - Human, in which there are 3 main branches called ShinSoe - Tai. The Japanese often use the Shoka flower arrangement to decorate their homes during the first days of the New Year.

Shoka style emphasizes vitality, growing energy. Flower vases arranged in the Shoka style are often arranged by the Japanese in the Tokonoma alcove, the most dignified place in the room.

Besides the vase, there is also a feng shui painting or a calligraphy at Tokonoma. This minimalist display shows extreme craftsmanship and sophistication. According to the Japanese concept, decorations do not need much, but must ensure a harmonious arrangement and correct position.

STYLE Moribara

Moribara means “piled flower” which is completely different from the traditional vertical flower style. Moribana is a style of flower arrangement on flat plates, combining flowers, plants, leaves, or fruits to create unique images, both classic and modern. This creativity led to the formation of the modern art of Ikebana flower arrangement. Moribana - a modern form of Ikebana emerges between the traditional Ikebana style and the Western style. While the Rikka style has evolved through many stages and has many rules, the Moribana style has only been around for about 100 years. Moribana can be used to decorate Western-style rooms. The design is only placed in the alcoves of rooms built in the traditional Japanese style.

Moribana brings a completely different feeling compared to the previous type of flower arrangement. Moribana uses a shallow vase allows the flowers to be strewn to the side, which is a form in which imaginary flowers seem to be forever planted. The characteristic of the Moribana style is its natural shape with numerous beautiful flowers. For the long-standing tradition of flower arrangement, Moribana is really an innovation and is widely used in Western-style room decoration. Moribana style leads the way to freedom for the art of flower arrangement. It is a style of flower arrangement that can be enjoyed anywhere and is suitable for both formal and intimate settings.