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The art of arranging flowers and beautifully cut stems and leaves aesthetically to represent a balanced relationship among the sky, the earth and mankind is what Japanese "ikebana" is all about.

Developed in the 16th century, this form of art has developed and evolved in Japan over a period of seven centuries during which time numerous flower arrangement styles have arisen. The most common of these styles are the rikka, the seika or shoku, nageire, moribana and jikuya. Initially an art form enjoyed by the wealthy aristocratic members of Japanese society, the beautiful flower arrangements were used to decorate the toko-no-ma * the alcove in rooms that were used to receive guests.

The Different Ikebana Styles of Flower Arrangement

The Rikka or "standing flowers" style was developed in the 15th century by the Buddhist priest Ikenobo Senkei who is also the founder of the oldest school of ikebana in Japan. Developed as a Buddhist expression of the beauty of nature, this style of arrangement had seven prominent branches representing the valleys, hills, waterfalls and other elements of nature prepared in a formalized manner.

The Seika or Shoku known as the "living flowers" style was developed in the 17th century by the growing merchant class. More simple than the rikka, this style of arrangement used only three main branches instead of seven. The three main branches represented heaven or ten, the earth or chi, and mankind or jin. This ikebana arrangement aimed to show the beauty of the plant as it represented the balance among the three main components of the cosmos.

The Nageire or " flung flowers" style is the oldest form of flower arrangement later used as part of the Japanese Tea Ceremony. The style is made up of three main parts with one dominant element and two supporting elements. These three main flower elements form the bases for the addition of other flowers to be added to give the entire arrangement a natural feel and a sense of life and beauty to the beholder. Once more, the sense of balance among the elements of heaven, earth and mankind is aimed for.

As Japan's contact with the west increased, a new form of ikebana arrangement also evolved in the 1800s. Known as the Moribana or "piled up flowers" style, this arrangement drew from the basic elements of the nageire but used a shallow wide vase instead of an upright one. The outstanding feature of the moribana is the expanse of natural-looking elements and the mound of beautiful flowers. Because it carries western influences, the moribana allows the use of western flowers.

As the art of ikebana developed and expanded to other parts of the world, a new style emerged known as the Jikuya or freestyle arrangement. Open to a greater degree of creativity, this style soon became the catchall of ikebana which allowed arrangements that used standards that did not fall within the earlier and more traditional styles of arrangement.

No matter what one's choice may be for arrangement style, ikebana (translated literally as "make flowers come alive") continues to thrive and attract attention not only in Japan but throughout the world. Far different from the complicated bouquet arrangements of Europe, the ikebana display continues to catch the eye of its beholder with its simplicity and natural beauty that gives one a sense of serenity and balance.