People Who Arrange Flowers, Part 1 | Talk with: Zhu Bao (Flower Arranger / Representative Director of the General Incorporated Association Yushinkai)
Key Terms
- Kakei: Refers to the form or school of ikebana, and can also refer to an ikebana artist.
- Higashiyama Culture: A culture that developed around the Higashiyama area in Kyoto during the late Muromachi period in Japan, emphasizing simplicity and Zen aesthetics.
- Doboshu: A group of experts who served the shoguns or nobles during the Muromachi period, responsible for art, culture and other affairs.
- Tatehana: An ancient form of ikebana that emphasizes the natural form and verticality of flower materials.
- Muso Shinkoryu: A school of Japanese ikebana with a connection to the Ginkaku-ji Temple.
Abstract
In this episode of the Low Altitude Flight podcast, the host invited the ikebana artist Shuho to discuss her unique journey in ikebana and her understanding of the Higashiyama Culture. Shuho didn't come from an ikebana family. By chance, she entered the world of ikebana and served as a Kakei at Jisho-ji Temple. She traced the roots of ikebana and was deeply influenced by the Muromachi period, especially the simple beauty advocated by Ashikaga Yoshimasa. Through learning from the late ikebana master Kodo Okada, Shuho deeply understood the essence of ikebana, which is to achieve the unity of people, flowers, and space through careful observation of flower materials and the grasp of space, verticality, and horizontality. She emphasized that ikebana is not just a skill but also a spiritual practice that requires enduring loneliness and maintaining physical and mental health.
Insights
This podcast is not only a in - depth analysis of traditional Japanese ikebana but also provides a new perspective for contemporary design. It inspires us that true beauty does not lie in superficial grandeur but in a profound understanding of the essence of things and the ultimate pursuit of details. By emphasizing the "vertical" and "horizontal" in ikebana, we can reflect on the modern society's excessive pursuit of standardization and "squareness" and integrate more natural and human - oriented elements into design.
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01 "Learn from Nature"
Ikebana is not simply imitating nature but showing the inner vitality of flower materials through observation and understanding.
02 "Less is More"
The simple beauty advocated by the Higashiyama Culture emphasizes stimulating people's imagination and sensibility by reducing unnecessary decorations.
03 "Harmony of Body and Mind"
Ikebana is not just a training of skills but also a spiritual practice that requires achieving the unity of people, flowers, and space through self - perception and spatial awareness.
In - depth Analysis
Ikebana: A Spiritual Practice of Verticality, Horizontality, and Wabi - Sabi
In the latest episode of the Low Altitude Flight podcast, the host, Gen Kenya, had a in - depth conversation with the ikebana artist Shuho about ikebana art. Shuho revealed the profound cultural connotations and philosophical thinking behind ikebana from her unique perspective.
From "Kakei" to "Hana no Furuetto": An Unusual Ikebana Journey
Shuho didn't come from a traditional ikebana family. On her mother's advice, she got involved with flowers. After experiencing an earthquake, she resolutely dedicated herself to the world of ikebana. This journey was not smooth. She claimed the title of "Kakei" in 2004 and became independent in 2015, founding "Hana no Furuetto". Shuho's understanding of ikebana goes beyond the surface - level skills and delves into its historical and cultural roots. She is particularly fond of the Higashiyama Culture of the Muromachi period, believing it to be an important source of Japanese aesthetic consciousness. After the Onin War, Japanese society underwent a profound cultural reflection, and people began to pursue simple and introverted beauty. This aesthetic ideology has deeply influenced later art and culture.
Higashiyama Culture: The Source of Simple Beauty
The Higashiyama Culture developed around the Higashiyama area in Kyoto during the late Muromachi period in Japan, with Ashikaga Yoshimasa as its representative figure. After the Onin War, Ashikaga Yoshimasa felt that luxury was useless and instead pursued simple and introverted beauty. He retreated to Higashiyama, built the Ginkaku - ji Temple, and promoted art forms such as tea ceremony and ikebana there. In the podcast, Shuho specifically mentioned the Doboshu, a group composed of artists and cultural figures. They were active around Ashikaga Yoshimasa and made important contributions to the formation of the Higashiyama Culture. The Doboshu not only achieved success in art creation but also were responsible for organizing and appraising the art collections of the Ashikaga shogun family and formulating corresponding decoration rules. These rules have had a profound impact on later art forms such as the tea ceremony and ikebana.
Meeting Kodo Okada: A Zen - like Spiritual Practice
In the process of tracing the roots of ikebana, Shuho met the late ikebana master Kodo Okada. Kodo Okada's teaching method was very unique and full of Zen. He didn't directly teach ikebana skills but asked Shuho to start with the most basic things, such as cleaning the courtyard, fetching water, and splitting firewood. Kodo Okada was very strict with Shuho, even to the point of being harsh. He would deny all of Shuho's efforts, making her very frustrated. However, Shuho didn't give up. She always persisted in learning and finally understood the essence of ikebana. Kodo Okada emphasized that ikebana is not just a training of skills but also a spiritual practice. Through careful observation of flower materials and the grasp of space, verticality, and horizontality, one can finally achieve the unity of people, flowers, and space.
Verticality and Horizontality: The Geometric Beauty in Ikebana
In ikebana, "verticality" and "horizontality" are very important concepts. Ikebana artists need to adjust the flower materials to present a harmonious vertical - horizontal relationship in the flower container. This relationship not only has visual beauty but also contains profound philosophical thinking. Verticality represents the upward vitality of life, while horizontality represents stability and balance. By grasping verticality and horizontality, ikebana artists can express their reverence for life and the pursuit of harmony.
The Solitary Spiritual Practice: The Fate of Ikebana Artists
At the end of the podcast, Shuho mentioned that ikebana is a solitary spiritual practice. Ikebana artists need to spend a long time with flower materials, constantly thinking and exploring. In this process, they may feel lonely and confused. However, it is precisely this solitary spiritual practice that allows ikebana artists to more deeply understand the essence of ikebana and create truly vital works.
Forward - looking Thinking
Through the analysis of Shuho's ikebana journey, we can see that ikebana is not just an art form but also a lifestyle and a spiritual pursuit. In today's society, people's life rhythm is getting faster and the pressure is increasing. Ikebana can help us slow down, feel the beauty of nature, and obtain inner peace and tranquility. In addition, ikebana can also provide new inspiration for contemporary design. By emphasizing the "vertical" and "horizontal" in ikebana, we can reflect on the modern society's excessive pursuit of standardization and "squareness" and integrate more natural and human - oriented elements into design.