Culture Fairies: Traditional Art

Tuesday, 6 October 2015

Ikebana – The Art of Flower Arrangement

Ikebana (生け花) is an art form of flower or plant arrangement that began in the Heian period in which flowers and plants are particularly set in a vase for showing appreciation. It is said the arts like Ikebana were developed as Japanese people had been close to nature. In Ikebana, not only flowers but also grass, trees, and all different kinds of plants can be used unlike flower arrangements. Practically, people arrange flowers to look more beautiful and tidier overall with other materials. People in Japan enjoy its seasonal events with decorated flowers Therefore, Ikebana, the unique culture, originated as Japan has distinctive four seasons. Ikebana has been popular among many generations as a hobby. Actually, there are about more than 30000 styles in Ikebana. Also, women have learnt Ikebana as a part of bridal training. Even some schools take Ikebana as classes to train student’s minds.

People sometimes run across Ikebana exhibitions at exhibition spaces at department stores, train stations and post offices. In Ikebana world, flowers and plants represent human life and express its beauty and preciousness. They also represent surroundings of humans, such as heaven and earth, so, practitioners need to arrange them in a good balance. In fact, people think flowers, which bloom strongly even on windy or raining days, have souls like human beings do. There is a traditional way of observing other’s Ikebana. Firstly, you will bow once towards the flower with Seiza (正座), sitting on your heels. Then, you will overview the structure first, and enjoy watching in detail like arrangement of the flowers, harmony with flower base and garden tub. Finally, you will bow to the person who created the work to show appreciation.

Here are some reading suggestion for further interest in Ikebana:

Wednesday, 30 September 2015

Tea Ceremony

“Chanoyu” – A Traditional Art

The origin of tea ceremony is from drinking green tea and Buddhist belief in China from fourth century to the eighth century, what is then transformed during different periods of time to become a traditional art of Japanese people. They hold different types of tea ceremony which depend on the time of day, season of the year or in some specific occasions. It could be a tea ceremony for early-morning summer, or to celebrate the first use of the portable brazier in the year. The styles of preparation for the tea ceremony is also vary based on season or the formality of events. Japanese Tea ceremony is not a drinking tea meeting or else, it is a spiritual experience that includes harmony, respect, purity and tranquility. Therefore, there are a lot of rules to prepare and take part in the ceremony.

An authentic example would be guests have to wait at the waiting room until the host done the preparation. Then they have to wash their hands and mouths from water in a stone basin to purify. They have to get in the tea room or tea house through a small gate in order to force them bow while they entry the room, the host will give back a silent bow. Then they have a range of steps and rules to really enjoy the tea. Depend on informal or formal they will serve guests with sweets and then tea or a full three course meal with sake and then tea. To become master of the art of Japanese tea ceremony, it takes years to learn and practice at tea schools. People have to learn common hosting duties, how to enter and exit the tea room probably, appropriate behavior when handling or drinking from the tea bowls.

For more information check out these links below: