The oldest school of Ikebana
Ikenobo Style Flower Arrangement: Photo by Author Akemi Sagawa
Among so many different schools of Ikebana that exist today, Ikenobo池坊 is by far the oldest with over 600 years of history.
The spirit of Ikenobo, therefore, is the spirit of Ikebana as a whole. Even students of other Ikebana schools benefit by learning the spirit of Ikebana that Ikenobo teaches.
What is Ikenobo’s spirit?
Flowers are not only beautiful but also reflect:
- The force of nature with which plants live in harmony.
- The feelings in our own hearts, and
- The passing of time.
In traditional styles of Ikenobo flower arrangement, branches represent mountains and flowers, water. Nothing exists in separation, but everything in nature exists in harmony. The arrangement is an expression of nature in an abstract form.
We humans are part of nature, and our feelings are also expressed through the arrangement.
With not only the flowers in full bloom but also hard buds, the arrangement expresses the impermanence of life.
The photo above is an example of an Ikenobo-style arrangement. I hope you enjoy it.