Ikebana in Panagbenga

FLOWERS cover the world with beauty, lightens the heavy burden of one’s heart, and owns a very special spot in an individual’s life. Flowers are made for different purposes: weddings, courtship, parties, sorrows and even death. Undeniably, the presence of flowers around us contributes to humanity, the world and the universe.

One flower arrangement that is quite unique in nature is the Ikebana. Ikebana originated in Japan but now brought to us this Panagbenga 2013. Students, parents and teachers joined the recent Panagbenga Ikebana Flower Arrangement competition held at the Baguio City National High School February 22.

The contestants were much inspired in setting and creating their arrangements. There were two categories for the competition: the dry and fresh ikebana arrangement. Dried grasses, petals, dried wood and withered flower plants and trimmings were used in the dry flower arrangement. Garden fresh flowers, stems, leaves and various styles of pottery were used in the fresh flower category.

Watching their hands placing their individual ikebana flower arrangement, I felt closer to nature .My eyes took on the finished arrangement with different angles of beauty showing the beauty and uniqueness of the plants. Just looking at those Ikebana arrangements, I felt in my mind and body so much peace.

Ikebana is known to be the Japanese art of flower arrangement. Another name is Kadõ meaning “the way of flowers”. In Ikebana art, a pattern is to be followed as to shape, line and form. It stays on linear form with sequence and hue. These also involves the proper combination and blending that includes the vase, the stems, leaves and branches and the flowers that contribute to the whole artistic arrangement simultaneously set on three areas signifying heaven, earth and humankind.

According to gojapango.com, “Ikebana began as a kind of ritual flower offering made in Buddhist temples in Japan during the sixth century. In these arrangements, both the flowers and the branches were made to point toward heaven as an indication of faith.” According to Wikipedia, “Ikebana is more than simply putting flowers in a container. Ikebana is a disciplined art form in which nature and humanity are brought together. Ikebana is a creative expression and there are rules governing it.”

Ikebana has different styles. The Ikebana evolution of styles and 20th century styles:

1. The first styles were tall, upright central stem that had to be accompanied by two shorter stems. The Rikka (standing flowers) style was developed as a Buddhist expression of beauty of nature. It includes seven branches representing hills, waterfalls, valleys and other objects of nature arranged in a specific way.

2. The Chabana style is the opposite of Momoyama style and emphasized rustic simplicity. The simplicity of the Chabana in turn helped create the Nageire or “thrown-in” style.

3. Nageire is a non-structured design which led to the development of the Seika or Shoka style. The style is characterized by a tight bundle of stems that form a triangular three-branched asymmetrical arrangement which was considered classic.

4. Seika or Sh?ka style consists of only three main branches, known as 'ten' (heaven), 'chi' (earth), and 'jin' (human).

5. Jiy-ka is a free creative design. It is not confined to flowers.

In the 20th century, with the advent of modernism, the three schools of ikebana partially gave way to what is commonly known in Japan as Free Style, such as Moribana upright style, Moribana slanting style, Nageire upright style, Nageire slanted style and Nageire cascading style.

Source: Wikipedia Encyclopedia