More than 300 years ago, the origin of the act of IKEBANA was born at a local temple in Kyoto.
The monks started collecting the flowers from the garden, the field and the mountain to offer them to Buddha, arranged according to certain rules of composition and meaning. This artistic act existed not only in Japan, though the main reason why Japanese Flower Arrangement is uniquely simple and differs from the decorative style in other nations is that the art of Ikebana overcame the influence of the period and the power of religion. Since Ikebana requires living flowers, everything is devoted to creating the beauty of the moment. The significance of Ikebana lies in giving ever-lasting artistic life to transient objects, through the repeated act of arranging flowers. Ikebana in Japanese doesn't mean flower arrangement, but its literal meaning is the act of giving another life to the flowers and allowing them to perform and reveal their innate beauty and spirit. It requires the simple application of natural form, in the way of Buddhism. Kuwahara Senkei Ryu is the one of the few old Ikebana families who have been preserving the beauty of Ikebana in a naturalistic, elegant way. I found integrity and intelligence as well as natural beauty in this family's art work and their humble way of life. |