Editorial

Security

Politics

World

Letters

Sports

Obituaries

Archives

by LAKMAL WELABADA

A freestyle Ikebana arrangement done using a palm leaf and red gebra flowers in a clay pot with a coir rope as a base.

To offer flowers to the Buddha, Japanese Buddhist monks were practising a new meditative method to form a novel style of floral arrangement with three asymmetric lines. The three lines are called Shin, Soe and Hikei in Japanese which represent heaven, man and earth respectively. Ikebana was the name given to the unique floral arrangement which was meant to worship the 'Thrylokagra' (Lord of the three worlds - the Buddha) in the Japanese Buddhist temples for centuries.

After sometime Ikebana was seen in the palaces in Japan as a divine decoration to please kings and queens.

A freestyle western floral arrangement done in a flat bowl with madonna lilies, ladylace and some greenery.

For many centuries, ikebana was done by only men until it became a tradition to have a floral arrangement in every Japanese home along with a beautiful wall-hanging inside the house just in front of the entrance to welcome visitors. A couple of centuries ago women too started doing ikebana arrangements. It started flourishing and spread all over the world.

Ikebana mixed with modern style. It could be called as a line and ‘nagaire’ (Japanese word for tall vase) arrangement done without using a pinholder or oasis. The vase is purple and black in colour. The floral arrangement is done to match the colours by using purple orchids and the creeper which gives the line effect painted in black.

The first school of Ikebana started by a Buddhist monks was called 'Ikenobo'. Today there are so many schools teaching this beautiful method of floral arrangement.

'Sugesto school' started by master Sugesto is one such popular ikebana schools in Japan. Keeping the three traditional uneven lines, Sugesto introduced a new array of Ikebana, mixing it with other eastern and western floral arranging techniques. As a result 'freestyle of Ikebana' has become one of the most popular hobbies among so many flower enthusiasts all over the world.

Sri Lankans are also among them, who agree with others that ikebana is one of the most relaxing, meditative and pleasurable pastimes.

The members of the Shi-en Ikebana and Floral Art Society of Sri Lanka held their annual flower arrangement exhibition at the Colombo Plaza (formerly Hotel Lanka Oberoi) recently.

Featured are some the eye-catching arrangements picked up from the exhibition for our readers.

www.crescat.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager