I can't quite remember when I became obsessed with ikebana style. Perhaps, owing to common ground in some of the sensibilities of ikebana with my own, I had started appreciating and adopting this 600 year-old art form before I even came to know of it.
What is Ikebana?
Ikebana, or "the way of flowers" (known as kadō), is a highly-respected traditional Japanese floral arranging art form. According to Asae Takahashi, president of Ohara School of Ikebana New York Chapter, ikebana started from a place of deep appreciation for nature and the landscape. Originally a strict, principled practice with strong religious and spiritual ties, its main practitioners were monks and men. Recent years have seen a new wave of modern ikebana styles that embrace pushing the boundaries of "rules" and lean fully into the celebration of creative expression. Still, the sense of harmony with nature remains.
Unlike traditional European and Western-style arrangements that revel in bountiful blooms and foliage (where"more is" (indeed) "more") and symmetry, ikebana stays true to its appreciation for each material by utilising minimal materials, carefully chosen and arranged with an intention to create asymmetry and negative space (both which this author humbly opines allows each material to take centre stage).
Ikebana Rules
There are now many different schools of ikebana, each adopting different rules of arrangement. One popular rule is the Rule of Three which create a sense of depth, dimension and balance, even with the sparse material used. Three main lines are created - shin, soe, and hikae - all anchored by a kenzan, a heavy based object with sharp metal pins. These three lines have specific rules as to their proportions in respect of the vessel they stem from and each other, as well as the angles in which they are placed.
Shin represents "heaven". It is about 1.5 times the size of the vessel (the total of the diameter and height) and leans in a 10-15 degree angle.
Soe represents "man". It is 3/4 the length of Shin and leans in a 45 degree angle.
Hikae represents "earth". It is 3/4 the length of Soe and leans in a 75 degree angle.
Modern ikebana-style arrangements (which are definitely my absolute favourite at the moment) use these rules loosely as a guide in achieving good form and dimension. I mean, trust the Japanese to come up with such high-grade precision art and principles. We are all the better for it, because we get to benefit by "winging it" with the best guidelines in mind.
Ikebana is so much more than just a way to arrange flowers. The very intentional creation of form and lines and practice of harmony and balance forces one to slow down, contemplate and appreciate each material that passes through ones hands.
If you'd like to try your hand at a more relaxed, informal form of ikebana, we'd be happy to engage in your creativity with you. Just drop us an email!
Or just take your time and browse some of our previous work on our website (here and here) or on our Instagram (@eryn.k.studio and @by.erynk) and see if you can spot any ikebana principles in our designs!
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