Lesson 1: All About Ikebana

At the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Define Ikebana

2. Appreciate the history of Ikebana

3. Understand the principles of Ohara School of Ikebana

4. Demonstrate the five styles of Ikebana

1. Lesson 1 Outline

2. Examples of this week's arrangements (created by Mitsuko Takeya):

• Inclining Form

• Rising Form Diagram

• Rising Form #1

• Rising Form #1 (9-10-20)

• Rising Form #2 (9-10-20)

• Variation Form of Rising Form

• Variation Form of Rising Form (9-10-20)

• Landscape Information

• Traditional Landscape Style

• Rimpa Information

• Rimpa Style

• Rimpa Demonstration Video

• Inclining From (9-10-20)

• One Row Form (9-10-20)

• Hanakanade (9-10-20)

• MORE INSTRUCTOR EXAMPLES (as of September 2020)

3. Lesson 1 Materials (used in the above arrangements)

*All materials, except some flowers, come from Mitsuko's garden--shown in the link above.

Ikebana is Japanese art of flower arrangement. It is more than simply putting flowers in a flower vase. It is disciplined art form in which the arrangement is living thing where nature and humanity are brought together. An Ikebana is creative expression with certain rules of construction. Its materials are living branches, leaves, grasses and blossoms. Its heart is the beauty resulting from color combinations natural shapes, graceful lines, and the meaning latent in the total form of arrangement.

Ikebana began as a kind of ritual offering made in Buddhist temples in Japan during Sixth Century.

In these arrangements, both the flowers and branches were made to point toward heaven as an indication of faith.

Ikebana took form in the Muromachi Period(1390-1573). The most significant changes were done in this period. The rules of Ikebana were more simplified so that people of all classes could enjoy this art.

The Ohara School was started in the late nineteenth century by Unshin Ohara, as Japan began to open itself to the influence of western culture, including the importation of colorful flowers and the search for ways to arrange these imported flowers. Unshin Ohara created “Moribana”, considered the first brilliant step in development of modern Ikebana. Before the development of moribana, Ikebana was done in bowls or vase in which material was arranged vertically. This moribana created a new freedom in flower arrangement, is used for a landscape or garden scene, It is style that can be enjoyed wherever it is displayed and can be adapted to both formal and informal situations.

Now, Ohara School is led by Hiroki Ohara, the fifth headmaster who is coming to San Diego this fall to conduct a seminar and workshop.

Our School emphasizes seasonal qualities, natural growth processes, and the beauty of natural environments and we believe that it is important for its students to observe nature.

I’d like to explain about our Ikebana styles which I have instructed you in the past according to our curriculum. The first two are the most basic forms and unless you learn these basics, you can not advance to the next.

Ikebana for Everybody by The council of Ohara Professors.

The Traditional Ikebana of the Ohara School by Hiroki Ohara.