Ikebana

Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. The term itself translates to “making flowers come alive,” which suits the practice as practitioners of ikebana work to bring out emotions and feelings through the flora they choose. Japanese ikebana involves the arrangement of flowers, branches, leaves, blossoms, and even stems. Ikebana is counted as one of the three classical Japanese arts of refinement, along with kōdō for incense appreciation and chadō for tea and the tea ceremony. The tradition dates back to Heian period (794–1185), when floral offerings were made at altars. The first school of flower arranging in Japan, Ikenobō, was founded by Ono no Imoko in the early 7th century. There are different styles of ikebana, such as rikka, shōka, nageire, moribana, and zen’ei ikebana. Each style has its own rules and principles of composition, based on a harmony of simple linear construction and an appreciation of the subtle beauty of natural material . Ikebana is not only a decorative art, but also a spiritual discipline that cultivates inner peace and harmony with nature.