Ikebana: Japanese Floral Art To Combat Stress And Be Happier

Often the simplest is the most beautiful. As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry reminds us in The Little Prince: “the essential is invisible to the eyes”. A phrase that hides a meaning very similar to the art of Ikebana or the so-called “path of flowers”, a flower arrangement that you can make yourself and that stands out for its simplicity.

But what is the Ikebana and what is its purpose? The history of this art dates back to Japan in the 7th century, when Chinese Buddhist missionaries began to practice flower arrangements in order to offer them to Buddha. In this way, it became a Japanese tradition that they called the “path of flowers”; a practice in which the use and meaning of nature is the protagonist, in which through the branches of flowers and leaves we can unfold our creativity and express our deepest feelings.

Fix an Ikebana patiently and quietly

While an Ikebana presents various embodiments, the end in itself not about branches mere plant or leaves to chance, but became part of Japanese culture through Buddhism and some of his teachings, as l connectionless with oneself through meditation.

Many of those who practice it assure that each path must be done with patience and silence, through concentration to live the here and now, one of the 4 keys of Buddhism to manage stress.

Thus, when making your Ikebana, you can choose your own  colors, shapes and lines of execution that are mixed with the local and seasonal flora of Japan, such as some of the most popular natural elements, such as bamboo or the plums.

The meaning of the term was later expanded to encompass the various styles of Japanese floral art. The first school of flower arranging was founded in Japan by Ono no Imoko at the beginning of the 7th century and was called Ikenobo; based on a harmony of simple linear construction and an appreciation for the subtle beauty of flowers and natural material.

Subsequently, Ikebana was divided into various schools according to historical periods and different artistic composition theories such as Ko, Ohara, and Sogetsū, and for individual styles, rikka, shōka, nageire, moribana, and zen’ei ikebana.

Its three main stems: heaven, man and earth

The basic design of the Ikebana features 3 main stems called “Shin”, “Soe” and “Hikae”. “Shin” is the longest root, used to represent the element of heaven. It is followed by “soe”, which generally represents man, while “hikae” is the shortest and represents the earth. All stems must be visible in the final composition.

In this way, we must imagine a vertical line in the middle of the vase, around which we will organize these three stems. There are numerous styles and ways to create an Ikebana, but the most popular are the Formal style , the Nagerie, and the Moribana style.

The Formal style is characterized by using a fine wire. It is the most simplistic style that seeks to recreate the character of plants through scenic and harmonious landscapes. What characterizes the Nagerie style is the use of tall vases with small diameters, and the Moribana style is often the simplest, made in a flat container.

How to make your own basic Ikebana step by step?

Flowers are the root of happiness. This is what Toshiro kawase, Japan’s leading modern Ikebana master, says about this art. A way to capture natural beauty to gain self-awareness and ultimately happiness.

Thus, we show you a step-by-step guide on how to create a simple Japanese Ikebana, so you can start your own flower arrangement.

• Take a horizontal container as a vase and get some skewers, called kenzan, to nail the stems.

• Choose between different crásulas, very decorative plants whose maintenance is minimal and that have a lot of movement, so they simulate the idea of ​​nature very well.
• Nail first the sky or Shin. The stems to be used can be thinner or thicker, and depending on the choice of the arrangement, it will be done by one method or another.
• Then he nails the Hikae or the Earth in another kenzan.
• Nail the Soe, which is man, the intermediary between Heaven and Earth.
• And finally, fill the container with a third or so of fresh water.

Your ikebana will be the beauty resulting from the combination of colors, natural forms, the arrangement of the lines of the branches, and ultimately, the meaning that you have wanted to give it as someone who has intervened, and has been the intermediary between a being alive and your soul, your inner self, who has approached nature to thank and give value to everything it offers us. A beautiful union impregnated with a beautiful philosophy of life that brings us closer to our most spiritual part.