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Seminar at SOAS 5th December 2008 [1]

Today is : 22, November 2008

Ikebana Teaching Clicking on the first reference will link you to the site directly, the second one will take you to the reference list.
French translation here[2] ^[1]
In the process of making a German translation [3] ^[1] and an Arabic version [4]^[1]

What is Ikebana?

Ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging, emerged from the traditional offerings of flowers to become an art form.

By the middle of the fifteenth century, ikebana achieved the status of art independent of its religious origins, retaining strong symbolic and philosophical overtones.

The first teachers and students were priests and members of the nobility, but as time passed many schools arose, styles changed, and ikebana came to be practiced at all levels of Japanese society.

The varying forms of ikebana share certain common features, regardless of the period of the school.

Any plant material may be used : branches, leaves, grasses, moss and fruit, as well as flowers. Withered leaves, seedpods and buds are valued as highly as flowers in full bloom. A work may be composed of only one, or many different kinds of materials, the selection of each element demands an experienced eye, and the arrangement requires technical skill in order to create a kind of beauty that cannot be found in nature.

There are many resources available, books etc.. A German site with ikebana links in English, French, Dutch and Japanese [5]^[1]
Another interesting site on ikebana [6]^[1]
Only links in English are included here.

Why a Page on Ikebana on WikiEducator?

To learn ikebana you do not have to have any previous qualification and you need not be of any particular age. You do not even need to love flowers because as you go along you will appreciate not only flowers but all plants.

My purpose is to introduce the way ikebana is taught and maybe other teachers can get inspired by it.
Tell me and I'll forget, show me and I may not remember, involve me, and I'll understand.
This Native Indian proverb on the main page of wikieducator is what prompted me to think of including this section here. Because these are the exact principles on which ikebana teaching are founded.

History of Ikebana Teaching

The oldest document on ikebana is "Kao irai no Kadensho". The famous manuscript with specific pictorial details on how to make an arrangement was written by a Japanese priest the founder of the Ikenobo School.The manuscript is “Ikenobo Senno Kuden” in which Senno Ikenobo way of arranging is recorded. The word Kuden means teaching by word of mouth, so it is a record of what Senno Ikenobo handed down.[7]^[1]

Description of Ikebana in English

1. • The British architect Josiah Condor read a paper on the Theory of Japanese Flower Arrangements before the Asiatic Society of Japan[8]^[1] in 1889 and later published The Flowers of Japan and the Art of Floral Arrangement in 1891. He belonged to the Enshu School[9]^[1].

Virtual Ikebana

For this page I was trying to set up a virtual ikebana lesson. Luckily there is a website for children to teach Japanese culture. The section on ikebana is by the Ohara School.

[10]^[1]

Distinguishing features of ikebana

• 1) asymmetrical form.

• 2) the use of “empty” space as an essential feature of the composition.

• 3) A sense of harmony among the materials, the container and the setting is also crucial.
• 4) Seasonal overtones.

These characteristics of the Japanese aesthetic feeling of ikebana are comparable with traditional paintings, gardens, architecture and design.

Although Ikebana is an art form it is surprisingly well standardised and to become a teacher or master many years of training are required.

Schools

There are many schools based on different principles and philosophies from the very traditional to the ultra modern. The form mainly asymmetric and combination of branches, flowers and other material are distinctive.

The word school is not absolutely correct. Examples of Ikebana Schools:
Saga Goryu[11] ^[1], from Kyoto, one of the oldest schools can trace its roots to Emperor Saga, over 1000 years ago.
Yamamura Goryu, from the Enshoji Temple, in Nara, for women with close ties to the Imperial family from the time of Emperor Gomizu about 400 years ago basically arranging wild and naturally growing flowers and plants.
Ikenobo school[12]^[1] formalised teaching in the first text “Ikenobo Senno Kuden” describing ways to arrange flowers, with its headquarter in Kyoto.
Soami School defined tokonoma a special alcove to place flowers.(pictures of a tokonoma [13]^[1])
Koryu (old school) [14]^[1]many types, some about 400 years old from the Edo period [15]^[1]and basically from Edo the old name for Tokyo include:
Nihon Koryu[16]^[1]Koryu Shoohkai, Koryu Shosei kai, Koryu Shoutoukai, Koryu Toyokai Suibokuka Temae, Katsura Koryu, Kezouin Koryu, Kinjo Koryu, Koryu Rionkai.
Towa Kado.
Ohara School[17] ^[1] introduced moribana
Sogetsu School[18] ^[1]
Enshu School[19]^[1], Enshuryu Isshin-kai, Misho School [20]^[1], Chiko, Ichiyo[21]^[1], Ryusei-ha[22]^[1], Kozan, Shinpa Seizan,Wafu [23]^[1], Aratame, Adachi, Chikuzen, Shinsei, Hai Shiki Kyuhai Ryu, Shofu, Sangetsu [24]^[1], Senkeiryu[25]^[1], Seifu Heika
Newer schools for example Ikebana Murasaki kai started in 1965, the headmistress is 95 years old.
References History of Ikebana and Nihonkoryu [26]^[1]

Ambiguity of names from translation

Goryu is a word used to describe ikebana with imperial links.
Koryu style from the Edo period (Edo=old name forTokyo)
Grand Master, is the name given to the head of an ikebana school related to a temple. Headmaster is the head of an ikebana school.[27]^[1]
School in English not an exact translation of the term a way i.e. each School has its way or philosophy of arranging, Ryū.

Teaching of Ohara School Ikebana

My first lesson: My teacher was Japanese.
I could not understand Japanese Tell me and I'll forget
Stage 1. She showed me what to do initially and
show me and I may not remember
Stage 2. asked me to dismantle everything and
Stage 3. try by myself.involve me, and I'll understand.
After I finished
Stage 4. she corrected my composition.
Initially my composition was two dimensional and by observing her, I learnt that if the flowers and branches were slightly tilted a three dimensional effect can be obtained. [28]^[1]

Ways of Practicing Ikebana

Lessons
Exhibitions[29]
Demonstrations[30]
Workshops[31]

Exhibitions in Japan 2008

Demonstrations in Japan 2008

Workshop

Comparison of teaching

The most impressive point for me is that education for teachers is continuous. For example in the Ohara School there is a council of professors who discuss new styles and ways of teaching. There is constant "testing" to keep up the standard of teachers and students. This practice is excellent. It would be a good system to emulate in the medical field too. One can say that attending national and international meetings and seminars, would be equivalent.

Ikebana leaves Japan

In 1956 Mrs Ellen Gordon Allen, an American lady founded Ikebana International[32]^[1] to introduce ikebana to the world. The founding ikebana schools were Ohara, Sogetsu and Ikenobo, now more than 40 schools are included, with over 8000 members in 60 countries, with the motto “Friendship through Flowers”. A magazine has been published 3 times a year for the past 50 years with pictures of ikebana arrangements and articles in English on Japanese art and culture. In my opinion this is very important historically as the innovations and progress of different schools are recorded.

Ikebana International and the olympic link

• Mrs Ellen Gordon Allen studied ikebana while in Japan, where her husband was posted just after the war. In 1956 she came back to Japan and had a meeting in Washington Heights Club. Washington Heights was the area that had the living quarter of American Military personnel and their families. Later this plot became the olympic stadium for the 1964 Olympic games in Tokyo.

After that meeting Ikebana International (I.I.) was founded. Now, every five years, members from all over the world come to Japan for a world convention, the latest was in 2006 in Tokyo, it also coincided with the 50th anniversary.[33]^[1] Yearly regional conferences are also held with one just over now, May 2008 in Monterey Bay, California.[34]^[1] The next regional conference is in Paris, France in October 2008. [35]^[1]

Ikebana Headmasters go to New York for the World Fair

• Ikebana headmasters from three schools while in New York for the World Fair together held ikebana demonstrations for the third Regional Conference of U.S. Ikebana International Chapters hosted by New York Chapter #7 in May 13-16 of 1964. Present in the United States for the fist time together the three were Headmaster Senei Ikenobo, of the Ikenobo School, Headmaster Houn Ohara of the Ohara School and Headmaster Sofu Teshigara of the Sogetsu School.

Special qualities of ikebana

Respect

Respect for the teacher Respect for others Respect for Nature

Therapeutic qualities

By touching and looking at a single flower or branch to decide where to place it or how much to cut or trim one is completely immersed in the task and forgets everything else. It helps one relax and at the same time feel closer to nature.

Plants & Flowers

A scientific name index of plants with Japanese names can be found here[36]^[1]. A Japanese name index can be found here[37]^[1] Some have explanations and illustrations. Flowers and plants classified by season and colour[38] ^[1]

Criticism

Use of Plant Material
When I first started ikebana, and maybe for those who see it for the first time one might wonder why waste branches and flowers in such a way. Having lived in Japan it became clear. When an empty plot is left for a few months it will be covered by plants. The climate in Japan is such that trees and plants grow very quickly and it is normal to trim them. Probably this is how ikebana started. One of the first texts describing a floral arrangement in the Japanese literature is that of cherry blossoms branches in a container in a corridor.

Books

Books on Ikebana available at the Library of International House of Japan[39] ^[1]
If you type in ikebana you can see the books available in English, German and Portuguese.
Books on ikebana can be found from the retrieval system of the National Center for Science Information Systems NACSIS Webcat[40]^[1]If you type in ikebana you can see the books available, in English, German, Portuguese, Polish, French and Japanese.

Picture Gallery

Old photos of Ikebana [41]^[1] [42]^[1]
Some of my arrangements ; photos[43] ^[1] [44]^[1]
Past event Okinawa during Pacific Science Congress [45]^[1]
New Event 10th Anniversary of Morinosato Kominkan (Town Hall) [46]

Exhibitions
Koryu at Bijutsu Club [47]

Stories

I started to learn ikebana without any knowledge of Japanese. A Japanese friend came with me to help with translating. The translation was mainly related to other matters. To learn ikebana language is not necessary.

URL References used in this article

Contributor

Nadia El Borai 2008

Acknowledgement

Thank you Kathy Kegang Zhu for pointing out typographical mistakes and for keeping me on my toes for exact information.

Categories

Invitation

Invitation to collaborate. Please leave a message or comment here [48]