Ikebana (生け花) translates to “living flower” and describes the Japanese art of flower arrangement, an art form exclusive to Japan, and next to Origami one of its most famous creative crafts.
Ikebana – together with calligraphy, tea ceremony training and poetry – was one of the mandatory tasks for every aristocrat in feudal Japan, in other words, every Samurai knew how to aesthetically arrange flowers.
The reason for this practice was relaxation and the focus on nature and its connection to human life. First, Ikebana was only practiced by male members of the noble classes but after the Meiji-Restauration, women began to adapt this old tradition and nowadays most Ikebana artists are women.
Ikebana arrangements are influenced by the season they’re created in, recognizable in the materials used. Different materials and flowers in the arrangement can express the mood of the artists and his own relationship to nature.
Ikebana is a timeless art form of classic and natural beauty.
Try it yourself!
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