Japanese vases

Japan is one of the few countries that has managed to preserve its traditional arts over the centuries, making up its past, its history and its culture. Among these arts are many that take the form of sports like sumo, martial arts like kyudo, figurative and symbolic art like prints, but also like ikebana. Indeed, you may already have heard of this floral art during a trip to Japan or from someone you know, but whatever the case, it's more than just a way of showcasing floral elements. In Japanese culture, ikebana has always been regarded as a true embodiment of the Zen path so extolled for centuries by the wisest of Japanese men. We'd like to take you on a quick tour of this floral art and its ancestral practice, to help you discover the essence of this codified practice and see why it has succeeded in crossing the centuries and now continents.

The origins of ikebana

Originally introduced by China in the 8th century, like many cultural elements of Japan, ikebana was then simply a way of highlighting the beauty of flowers and the elements provided by nature. Only Japanese nobles and aristocrats took up this floral art to decorate their residences or the Imperial Court. But it wasn't long before ikebana came to be seen as more than just a figurative art form during the samurai era. As the influence of Buddhism grew in Japan, so did the path of Zen, often blending the one with the other. Over the years, ikebana gradually took shape, with flower artisans and masters of the art developing special techniques to sublimate the floral elements in ikebana vases and the various flowers nature had to offer.

However, it was only the wealthy Japanese who enjoyed this art until the 15th century. It wasn't until the shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa introduced tokonoma into homes that ikebana crossed all social strata. The tokonoma being a slightly elevated place within a house, often with a surface area of one to two meters, the Japanese began to fill it with ikebana flower arrangements to add a natural decoration to the home. But ikebana was more than just a way of adding a touch of nature and flowers to a place other than the garden; it became a true means of expression, in which the artist who creates a composition conveys real emotion and feelings. Here's how one ikebana master defines it:

"Japanese ikebana is a philosophy, a form of thought. We work on the marriage between flowers and plants. We seek to purify the composition to highlight each of the flowers. The flowers change aspect over time, illustrating the passing seasons. All this forms a kind of balance that can be broken at any moment. In fact, these compositions can be seen as a kind of metaphor for life."

Why practice ikebana?

Once you've read the definition given by an ikebana master with many years' experience, you'll quickly realize that it's not just a matter of putting a few varieties of flowers in a vase to look pretty in a room. To understand the essence of ikebana, you really need to see it as a means of expression that an artist can realize in his or her own right, in the same way as painting, singing or sculpture. It's very different from the way we showcase flowers, which in most cases consists of grouping different types of flowers in different colors to form a bouquet. Ikebana, on the other hand, advocates a purification of its components, which is why there are often no more than three or four.

The practice of ikebana is therefore intended above all for those who feel an attraction towards nature, flowers or at least contact with them in a general way. If you let yourself be carried away, you'll soon discover that you can let yourself speak for yourself by creating personal floral compositions that reflect a part of your personality. In conclusion, practising ikebana will enable you to free yourself from a certain burden or desire to express yourself through floral elements to which you are attracted, while fully embracing Japanese Zen culture. What's more, it's a great opportunity to integrate your floral arrangements into your interior design to bring a little freshness into a room or even build yourself a perfect place to practice meditation.

What's the difference between a normal vase and an ikebana vase?

When you're new to ikebana it's legitimate to wonder what equipment you need to practice, which we'll look at just after, but first it's important to differentiate why you shouldn't take ikebana vase selection lightly. In an ikebana flower arrangement, you will often have to hold large flowers, or even branches, and so a tool called a kenzan (flower spike) has been invented to hold these elements upright. The kenzan is designed to be placed at the bottom of the vase, and is often covered with complementary elements such as moss or bark. Your vase should therefore have a flat base and not have too tight a spout to accommodate the kenzan. If this is the case, you won't be able to place your kenzan and, consequently, make your flower arrangement stand upright. Secondly, a normal vase is only intended to decorate a room, and a harmony between it and the flowers it holds is not necessarily sought. Conversely, an ikebana vase must absolutely complement the composition it is intended to hold, in terms of shape, design and color, otherwise your ikebana floral arrangement will not be homogeneous.

How to make an ikebana floral arrangement?

Now that you know what ikebana is and have had a little insight into its symbolic dimension, it's time to see how to make your first composition. First, we recommend that you start by choosing your floral elements, at least two of them. Choose beautiful flowers with which you already have an affinity and which, if possible, are complementary in color. Don't hesitate to ask a botanical expert for ideas, if you're lucky enough to have one in your circle. You can use white flowers, tulips, roses, orchids or even green plants if your inspiration fails you. And don't forget to look at the flowers in season to make sure you've got the right ones, or even more exotic Japanese flowers if you're looking for something original. If you want to add something extra to your arrangement, you can always take care to select only fragrant flowers to add charm to your floral decoration. Once you've done that, you'll need to choose your ikebana vase. At Au cœur du Japon, we offer a wide range of ikebana vases with which you can create elegant floral arrangements. There are in fact three types of ikebana vase, and depending on the flowers and/or branches you have chosen, you'll need to choose between them: 

• Vase nageire: These are slender vases, often around twenty centimetres high, and will therefore be perfect if your elements are large in length.
• Moribana vase: Moribana vases are often the most widely used in ikebana, as they can accommodate almost any type of flower. They are flat vases, often comparable to a dish or plate.
• Vase yubana : The last category of vases corresponds to vases made from elements not intended to hold a floral composition.

Once you've made your choice from these three types of ikebana vases, all you have to do is install your kenzan in it, then place your flowers in it, taking care to give them the orientation you want. Then finish off your arrangement with a pair of ikebana shears or scissors to cut off any excess petals and foliage, so that your arrangement can breathe. Now you're ready to add a beautiful and romantic decorative element to your home, as well as the aromatic flavors that often accompany an ikebana floral arrangement.

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