JAPAN: its traditions, culture, history and a bit about anime!

Ikebana. Truth in simplicity What could be better than moments captured in flowers, herbs and branches with uniform composition in accordance with the principles of harmony and beauty? In Japan it is not known other art that would better Express the perfection of nature, to reveal all its depth and originality than ikebana .

Ikebana is an ancient art of making bouquets, which not only contributes to aesthetic development, but also brings in a man a sense of beauty, inspiring and they inspire new creations. Not for nothing, after all, the word “ikebana” podnimatsya as “flowers that live”.

The traditional art of Japan originated and became popular in India and came to Japan together with Buddhism religion. Here it is widespread and has entered the culture of Japan as art of flower arrangement.

What is the mystery of creating masterpieces of flowers? According to the Japanese, the main principle on which to base ikebana is nothing like simplicity. It’s the simplicity that infuses every bouquet that is created according to certain rules and rituals. In preparing the compositions of flowers has a meaning even the most minor details that are of great importance to the meticulous Japanese who love thoroughness in everything and everywhere.

The floral arrangement is so distinctive that it is often possible to feel the emotions, feelings, thoughts and mood of the artist and arranger, who prepared the ikebana. In the bouquets reflected the national trait of the Japanese people – a subtlety of perception of lines and shapes.

Ikebana is so symbolic that even the number of flowers and flower state may indicate a particular phenomenon or event.

For example, talk about the past a fully opened flower buds, dry leaves, or fruits, of the future – buds or blossoming buds, present poluraspredelenia symbolize the flowers of trees and shrubs.

The seasons are also reflected in the ikebana, which is made in Japan. So, in the spring of ikebana full blossoming fruit trees, summer – hits a huge variety of colors and a huge number of forms of arrangements. Fall and winter flower arrangements are not as vivid as in summer, they are quiet, muted. In the bouquet in these seasons are always present branches with dormant buds, and dry material. The liveliness in this song brings pine green, through which, the bouquets look more vibrant and visually alive.

Craving for simplicity, sometimes pushing the Japanese to create stuff out of 1-2 colors, or even one from twigs or leaves. Naturally, European countries found it difficult to understand such a minimalism of Japanese culture. The Europeans are trying to Express the skill of ikebana in its entirety, resulting in the creation of bouquets of large number of colors and design them in the most varied combinations. This approach is not valid, because the main idea of creating floral arrangements is to disclose the essence of ikebana represented in the plants, their deep meaning and philosophical values. And this does not required the silhouettes and color of ikebana.

Masters Japan strive for extreme simplicity, even severity, being limited to a small number of plants and flowers, focusing on the most simple and modest.

Such compositions may be maintained in the room where tea ceremonies are held. In the solemn halls, exhibitions, festive events can quite often be found complex arrangements with large branches, stems and trunks. For ikebana turned out fine and the original is not necessary to use expensive and luxurious colors, it will approach the most simple flowers, branches, mossy branches, seed pods, and even weeds.

For residential premises is typical Japanese ikebana to place the wall on a low dais. Here we usually hang a picture or a scroll with different kanji. These characters often means the sayings in poetic form or prose.

Ikebana can be done in different styles: • Style “Nageire” based on the very simple layout view

flowers and plants. Plants and flowers randomly put in a vase to create an easy ease to create a certain artistic image. • Style “Seika” is characterized in that the vessel does not play a role of a strong trunk or stem, as the flowers would come out of the bowels of the Earth. All elements of the composition is directed to the light source – the Sun. • Style “Moribana” distinguished by the fact that the flowers and plants arranged in a container that does not touch the edges of the dish, and just rise above the water. For the preparation of ikebana like this use a special metal stand with spikes, between which is fixed branches, large leaves and stems. • The style of “ricca” – the solemn style, which is considered Japan’s festive and dressy, and is used for bouquets for the holidays. In Japanese “ricca” stands for “raised flowers.” Whichever style of ikebana was not selected, the main idea of the composition of the plants and flowers should remain with the transfer of beauty and harmony of each component of the bouquet, their originality and uniqueness.