The Wisconsin Gardener

We are at Green Bay Botanical Gardens in one of their classrooms to learn about ikebana. I am with Kazuko Bressler who is on the board of directors for Green Bay Botanical Gardens and you are also an instructor in ikebana. Please, tell me what that is. Ikebana is the Japanese art of arranging flowers in accordance with rules and principles set over many centuries. So it's a very ancient art. Yes, it is a very old art. We can categorize ikebana into three categories basics, classics, and contemporary. Give me a time line, where did this begin? The first ikebana school was established in 1500s. However, the origin of that school goes way back into 6th century. Wow. They've had a long time to develop these rules and styles. Yes. Classics would be the oldest? Yes, classics would be the oldest. Well, you've got a number of arrangements here done by you and some of your students. So let's start out and take a trip through history. Yes. The first arrangement here is called a Rikka. Rikka is consists of nine major lines with many helpers to enhance the arrangement. Actually, this Rikka represents landscape of Tonko, China. This is the very oldest style? A monk who went to Tonko, China to study Buddhism did not have a camera so he came back, decided to create the flower arrangement to show the landscape of Tonko, China. The tallest branch, you can see is the tallest mountain. Cascading willow branches are the mountain range below that and also the winter berry is another mountain. The center of the arrangement, irises and mums and the greenery represents the village of Tonko. Then, lines that goes to the front represent the river going into an ocean. This is all symbolism of a real place. Yes. Wow, and it's beautiful, too. This is also still part of the classic? Yes, this is called Nageire. Nageire means throw in flowers. It is very informal arrangement. Okay. We put a lot of the emphasis on three things of material the way they grow. So burning bush, things that we might find in nature. Are the vases themselves significant? Yes, the vases like this vase is a thin and tall vase we call a Shin vase. Okay. This one then, is completely different. It's tall, but it's not thin. No, it's opening is wider than a shin vase. We call it Gyo vase. This arrangement actually come from Rikka. It was created in 1700s and characteristic of this arrangement is that whole arrangement emerges from one point in the vase. It has three major lines. Shin is the tallest line. Soe is the second tallest line. The short line is called Tai. These three lines have a focal point that you can create triangle when you connect them. Oh, so there, and then there. Yes. Is that triangle the basis for all of the arrangements in ikebana? Yes. Okay, I just discovered a basic premise. Yes. Then we're moving into more modern styles of arrangements. Yes, this is a late 1800s. This arrangement was created late 1800s when Paris exposition was held in Paris, France. The Japanese government was asked to present some Japanese culture. Oh, wonderful. So Moribana was created. Moribana means to pile flowers in a vase. So more casual. It is very casual. We create the miniature garden in a vase. This is a different container entirely than the other two we looked at. That's true. The opening is much wider and lower. What is this called? This is called a So style vase. This one, I really like. This is just beautiful. I love the horse tails. The next one, we call this arrangement Freestyle. It was created after the Second World War because there are modern materials coming into Japan by air. Also, the lifestyle of Japanese are changing. This arrangement, you use light materials and dark materials, airy materials. You combine those lines that airy material creates the arrangement. We should mention, these are meant to be viewed from the front and against a blank wall. We're back here to help illustrate this. Now we're moving into modern times? Yes, this arrangement was created in 1970 by headmaster of Ikenobo school. This is a Shoka, like a classic shoka. When you see the arrangement it emerges from one point in the vase. However, we use more materials in this one. Now you're allowed to be-- Much freer than classic arrangements. The plants are beautiful and again we have that triangle happening. Yes. I really want to learn more about this. You hold a show at Green Bay Botanical Gardens in March. Yes. We will also have more information on ikebana on our website. Thank you. Thank you, Kazuko.