History of Ikebana
The truth about the history of Ikebana is unknown. It is thought to have come to Japan as a kind of ritual flower offering made in Buddhist temples in Japan during the sixth century. In these arrangements, both the flowers and the branches were made to point toward heaven as an indication of faith. The most significant changes in the history of Ikebana took place during the fifteenth century, when the Muromachi shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimasa (1436–1490) ruled Japan. The large buildings and small houses that Yoshimasa had built expressed his love for simplicity. These small houses contained tokonoma, where people could place objects of art and flower arrangements. It was during this period that the rules of Ikebana were simplified so that people of all classes could enjoy the art. Another major development took place in the late sixteenth century. A more simple style of flower arrangement called nageire (meaning to throw in or fling in) appeared as part of the tea ceremony. According to this style, flowers are arranged in a vase as naturally as possible, no matter what materials are used. In the 1890s, shortly after the Meiji Restoration (a period of modernization and westernization in Japan), there developed a new style of Ikebana called moribana, or "piled-up flowers". This style appeared partly due to the introduction of western flowers and partly due to the westernization of Japanese living. The modern form of Ikebana is more expressive than the classic style. Along with the tea ceremony and calligraphy, Ikebana was one of the arts in which women were traditionally schooled in preparation for marriage. Today, flower arrangement is one of the traditional arts in Japan. It is practiced on many occasions like ceremonies and parties, and modern people are still choosing to study the art. |