Ikebana is a delightful form of art and meditation, derived from a centuries-old Japanese tradition. It is saturated with mysticism and symbolism. It emphasizes the inextricable relationship between man and nature. It teaches patience and allows you to fully appreciate the charm of wildlife. The minimalist compositions on which this art of flower arranging is based bring invigorating beauty to any interior. Would you like to know the philosophy and main rules of making ikebana? Do you want to better understand the aesthetics hidden in this tradition? Or perhaps you run a florist shop and hope to find out how to keep the beauty and freshness of such plant compositions longer? This article will give you a better understanding of the ikebana and the flower refrigerators that goes perfectly with it..
 

What is ikebana?
 

Ikebana is a mystic (and eye-catching) Japanese tradition and an interesting meditation technique. It is the art of arranging flowers - and other plant elements - into harmonious, usually asymmetrical compositions. Literally the word "ikebana" means "to revive flowers" or "living flowers".
 

What is the philosophy of ikebana focused on?

Ikebana is more than just a skillful arrangement of plants in a nice composition. Behind this art form is a rich philosophy of the Far East. The process of creating a floral masterpiece is more important than the end result. You cannot create real ikebana quickly and mechanically. A lot of time should be devoted to it, filled with meditation on the mystical relationship between man and nature, the passing of time, the cyclical character of the seasons, the magical cycle of life, the ephemeral and the ethereal nature of existence.

Ikebana is based on a spiritual exchange between man (creator) and plant (material). A fragile and delicate plant gives up its life in anticipation of a charming future. The precise creation of a harmonious composition is a way of showing respect to flowers and paying tribute to the beauty of nature.
 

Which rules should be followed by creating ikebana?

In our culture, we are used to paying attention mainly to the number and colours of flowers. The Japanese approach this a little differently, emphasizing above all the linear aspects of the composition. Moreover, unlike us, they treat flowers as only one of many decorative elements, not the most important one.

Ikebana is an art saturated with symbolism. This is why the individual elements are arranged in a vertical triangle, based on three main lines representing heaven, mankind and earth. The first, or sky, is the longest and is in the centre. The shortest one symbolises the earth. Balancing the composition and finding the perfect relationship between these lines is a metaphor for the harmony between people and nature around them.

In ikebana leaves, stems, shoots or branches are considered the most important. Only then are the flowers added. It is also useful to know the symbolism of flowers and other plant elements. For example, bamboo stands for friendship.

The vessel is also an integral part of the whole; it must remain consistent with the overall concept. The most common vessels are vertical (vases, goblets) or flat (bowls, jugs), made of clay and porcelain. Inside, a kenzan, which is a special plate with spikes, is placed on which the stems have to be nailed in order to hold them firmly.

What are the main styles of ikebana?

The most famous styles in the Japanese art of flower arranging include:

Rikka. It means "standing flowers". This is the oldest style, governed by many strict rules. He likes to impress with size - compositions are often even 1.5 meters high. The elements are arranged symmetrically in narrow and tall vessels symbolizing a trunk. The most common combination are branches of pine, cypress and cedar interlaid with bamboo, chrysanthemum or magnolia.

Shoka lub seika. This is a classic style where the vertices of the three main elements should form a triangle. Lilies, aspidisters and roses are usually placed in low pots.

Moribana. It means "an accumulation of flowers." The compositions here are small, but composed of many flowers, mostly gladioli, gerberas, lilies and chrysanthemums. Each of the elements has a strictly defined slope direction and length.

Heika. This style does not use a spiked tile. Plants such as cloves, chrysanthemums, roses, tulips, callas, asters, irises, and narcissi should be placed in a tall vase. Of course, all at the right angle.

This field of art, although very focused on tradition, is constantly evolving and transforming. Over the centuries, many different styles and schools of stacking have emerged. Many of them reject formalization in an angle and allow a lot of freedom in choosing the form or materials.

Where to place ikebana?

In a traditional Japanese house, ikebana takes a special place of honor called tokonomo. Above it there is a long, rolled strip of paper with a sentence or a painting. Ikebana must harmonize with the message on the paper.

For us, it is worth placing such a composition in modern, raw, minimalist interiors. It fits especially good in bathrooms with no ornaments and dark colors, with elements made of wood or stone. It significantly disperses the monotony and fills our four walls with the balance flowing from nature. Because that's what it is all about - to remember that ikebana is a symbol of the unity of man with nature.

Why is an ikebana and a flower refrigerators a good combination?

We've already written about why cut flowers should be kept at a low temperature. So if you have beautiful ikebana which you want to sell to customers in the florist shop, go for a refrigerating device which will properly display the charm of the plants and at the same time significantly prolong their freshness. It would be a shame for a time-consuming composition to wilt almost immediately after creation.

That's why our flower refrigerator is a good solution, designed to keep plants in optimal conditions. Thanks to the panoramic windows, your customers can see chosen ikebana from all sides without taking them out of the safe embrace of the cold. Using the electronic regulator with display, you can set the perfect temperature. LED lighting brings out more beauty in the plants. We've decorated our device with an elegant floral motif to make it feel even more at home in a florist's shop.

And that's not all! With our configurator you can easily plan your arrangement to the height you prefer. The basic platform is 40 cm high, but you can also opt for 20 or 60 cm.

Ikebana can also be placed on suspended shelves or - new in our offer! - adjustable shelves mounted on rails.

If you would like to learn more about our flower refrigerator, as well as our other products, please contact us by phone on 81 742 53 10 or rapa@rapa.lublin.pl . We will be happy to answer any questions!