IKEBANA

Ikebana means ‘living flowers’ or ‘bringing flowers to life’.

For centuries, flowers have been offered to Buddha in Japan.

Flowers were picked and laid down. Later, flowers and branches were arranged upright in a vase or container and the three main branches symbolized the unity between heaven, humankind and earth.

Around the 13th century, Zen gained influence on ikebana art. Those who practice Zen choose to confront themselves directly at the present. Zen as a philosophy of life teaches simplicity in life and love of nature.

There are five elements that derive from Zen that are very important within ikebana:

     – harmony

     – simplicity

     – a-symmetry

     – feeling for nature

     – transience

Being engaged in ikebana is more important than the final result. The process is what counts. It is about the pleasure of creatively arranging with natural and also unnatural materials. Create space in your arrangement. Just then a few beautiful branches and a few flowers will flourish. Less is more.