How to Arrange Ikebana Flowers

Veronica: Ikebana is a disciplined art form in which nature and humanity are brought together. Hi, I’m Veronica of watchmojo.com. And today, we’re at the Montreal Botanical Gardens to learn more about this ancient art form.

So what is the ancient art of ikebana?

Mrs. Sheila Lyons: Ikebana is the art form of making a flower arrangement in accordance of the Japanese.

Veronica: What’s the history behind the skill?

Mrs. Sheila Lyons: The history of ikebana started in the seventh century. It was an Ambassador to china, who was so impressed with the Buddhist, the monks. When he came back, he became Buddhist and he started the Ikenobo School. It is the oldest one in Japan. And they think that through out the world is three million people that do it.

Veronica: So how are nature and humanity brought together in these pieces?

Mrs. Sheila Lyons: Well, you had the heaven, which is the first flower you put in or first stem you put in. And then you have earth, which is the secondary one which sort of stands out. And then you have man, not woman, note but man. That’s the small one called object. And all the Ikebana arrangement is a triangle. That it doesn’t have to be like the triangle that you played at school, but as long as you’ve got the triangle, that’s all it takes. You’ve got the classic triangle here and also there.

There has been a triangle there and the top one has to be twice the size of this pot. The tall one, that’s heaven, and then you have the subject, which is that one, then you have the object, which is that one. That is a classical bunging very, very nice one.

This an Ikebana design but it’s free style. You see they’ve got the three flowers. She’s use the fans a free style.

This is Sogetsu. The name Sogetsu means moon and grass. In their school, you can do everything you want, provide that it does conformed. It’s very tranquil and it’s the most beautiful hobby you could personally have.

Veronica: Well, thank you very much.

Mrs. Sheila Lyons: You’re more than welcome.