Ikebana for beginners: basic principles, the kenzan and the main schools
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Ikebana is the Japanese art of arranging flowers, and it works almost the opposite way to a full Western bouquet. Where a florist might use thirty stems, an ikebana arrangement might use three, placed so that line, space and the season matter as much as the flowers themselves. It is also known as kado, the way of flowers.
What makes ikebana different
- Line before mass. Branches, stems and leaves are chosen for the shape they make, not just for colour.
- Empty space is part of the design. The space between and around the materials, often called ma, is as important as the materials themselves.
- Asymmetry. Arrangements are usually built as an uneven triangle rather than a balanced dome.
- Restraint. Fewer materials, carefully trimmed. Removing leaves and twigs is a large part of the work.
- The season. Ikebana traditionally reflects the time of year, using what is growing now: bare branches and buds in late winter, blossom in spring, grasses in autumn.
- The whole plant. Buds, open flowers and fading leaves can all have a place, because they show change over time.
The three main lines
Many styles are built on three principal stems, often named shin, soe and hikae in the Sogetsu school, and commonly explained as heaven, humanity and earth.
- Shin is the longest and most important line.
- Soe is a medium length, supporting shin.
- Hikae is the shortest, often placed low and forward.
Each school gives its own proportions and angles for these lines, and the numbers differ between textbooks, so follow the teacher or book you are learning from. Other stems, called fillers in some schools, are added to support the main three but should never compete with them.
The kenzan
The kenzan is a heavy, flat holder covered in sharp brass or steel pins. It sits in a shallow container, the water covers it, and stems are pressed onto the pins.
- Place it off-centre in the container, not in the middle; this is a common rule in beginner lessons.
- Cut stems straight for soft flowers and push them down firmly onto the pins.
- Split or cut woody stems at the base so they grip and can be angled.
- Hide it with leaves, small stones or the arrangement itself if the style calls for it.
- Dry it after use so it does not rust, and keep it away from children's hands.
Upright styles in tall vases do not use a kenzan; they rely on cut sticks wedged inside the vase to hold stems in position.
The main schools
There are many ikebana schools in Japan and around the world. The three most often encountered outside Japan are:
- Ikenobo, generally described as the oldest school, with its origins in the 15th century and roots in Buddhist temple flower offerings.
- Ohara, which developed from Ikenobo around the turn of the 20th century and is associated with the moribana style of arranging in a shallow, wide container.
- Sogetsu, founded in the 1920s by Sofu Teshigahara, known for a freer, more modern approach that allows unusual materials.
Founding dates are given slightly differently in different sources, and each school has its own curriculum, certificates and rules. None is the right one; choose the style, or the teacher, that appeals to you.
How to start
- Get a shallow container and a kenzan. A low bowl and a mid-sized kenzan are enough for beginner moribana styles.
- Collect materials. One interesting branch, a few flowers and some leaves. Garden and roadside material (where you are allowed to cut it) is ideal.
- Choose the main line first and spend time looking at the branch from every angle.
- Trim away more than you think. Then trim a little more.
- Look at the space, not just the plants.
Classes are offered by school branches and local cultural centres in many cities, and are the best way to learn the details of any one tradition.
Share what you arranged first, or ask a question about a style or school, in the comments.