The origin of modern ikebana ~the history of flowers and man~

the oldest offering flowers

Man has a long history of offering flowers, especially at grave.

On the first historical evidence, Neanderthal offered flowers on the other’s grave in Shanidar Cave in Iraq. In the cave, some buried Neanderthal skulls and bones. In the soil around the bones, pollen fossil was found. On the other places, no pollen fossil was found in the soil. Therefore, it is considered that Neanderthal offered flowers. There are various opinions. However, most researchers has thought that the oldest historical flower-offering.

Buddhism and Shinto, the Japanese view of the nature

Japanese has long history of flower-arranging. It was said that the origin was Buddhism. Buddhism has a custom of offering flowers in front of Buddhist altar.

Japanese has their own unique view of the nature. They believed that all of the nature has gods inside. Stone has god of stone. Mountain has god of mountain. Flower has god of flower. It is the belief of Shinto. Shinto is the indigenous Japanese religion. It is polytheistic.

From the religions, Japanese has grown the culture of the living with the nature. A traditional house in Japan has pond, water fall and trees in the garden.
The culture can be seen in the literature. Some of the famous anthologies has a lot of poems of which the theme were “flowers”.

“kado” has establish in Muromachi era

In Muromachi era (1336-1573), a lot of traditional Japanese cultures were established. For example, Nou and Kyo-gen (Japanese traditional style musical), Nihon-ga (traditional style drawing), Shoin-tsukuri (traditional building), yakimono (pottery), and kado (Japanese style flower-arrangement) came into existence.

Senke Ikenobo is well-known as a kado master. He was a Buddhist monk in Muromachi era and offered flowers in front of Buddhist well. Later he wrote book of ikebana secrets named “Fushikaden”. It has been shown how to arrange flowers.

Modern ikebana changing and spread

Through edo era (1603-1868), the culture had changed. From religious people and ruler to ordinary people, the leader of the culture had changed.

In following Meiji era (1868-1912), the traditional culture was declining. Japan established diplomatic relations with western countries. Western culture came into Japan. The culture mixed western and Japanese bloomed in the era. On the other hand, traditional culture was declining. Ikebana also underwent atrophy.
A change came to Ikebana, as female education started.

Government introduced ikebana into school education. All female students in the Meiji era learned ikebana. Ikebana expanded during female students.

Nowadays, Japan has more than 300 schools, such as Ikenobo-ryu, Sogetu-ryu, Ohara-ryu.

As you are looking forward to learning Japanese culture, why don’t you find ikebana class?