The Japanese Way of the Flower
Background
Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement and is also known as kado (the “way” of flowers). As one of the traditional arts of Japan, ikebana has been practiced for more than 600 years. It developed from the Buddhist ritual of offering flowers to the spirits. By the middle of the fifteenth century, ikebana achieved the status of an art form independent of its religious origins although it continued to retain strong symbolic and philosophical overtones.
Additionally, what distinguishes ikebana from other forms of flower arrangement is its emphasis on asymmetrical beauty and the use of space as an essential feature of the composition. A sense of harmony among the materials, the container and the setting are also crucial. These are characteristics that ikebana shares with traditional Japanese paintings, gardens, architecture and design.
Experience
Explore the mind/body connection that lies at the heart of all traditional Japanese arts and culture. After being served some traditional Japanese tea, the participant/s will experience how simple Japanese flower arrangement techniques can be used to refresh the body and restore the spirit. Utilising seasonal plant materials and flowers, you will be inspired to make your own flower arrangement and experience ikebana as a moving meditation.
“My ikebana experience was both an experience of adventure,and contemplation, of stillness and yet effort, of new knowings about how people, heaven and earth can be connected and woven together in this form of arranging flowers, leaves, stems and branches….”
JUDITH ACKROYD
New Zealand