Saturday 25 January 2014

SEASON WELL

Last night was the AGM at our Japanese Society.  Afterwards we were treated to a display of flower arranging (ikebana) by a 2nd dan master of the Ohara school, which features highly seasonal arrangements.  There are up to 24 seasons in Japan, but because of the odd weather this year (it's still 11 degrees outside here), the main arrangement was winter/early spring ('risshun' in Japanese), which would in Japan be around the 4 February.

This is the main arrangement

A bit difficult to get a good shot with all the external noise, but I hope you can see it.  I think there are 10 different plants in the display.

 

As with other schools of ikebana, the containers are as important as the plants.  The Ohara style is what Westerners might call 'simple'.  But of course that's because it is easy for an expert to arrange.  Here is one which might be early March (when the insects wake up but the buds haven't burst).



And this is another which might in Japan be early January (before it gets really cold).

I have to say that it's nice to find so much colour in the present season which cheered us all up no end.

7 comments:

  1. A fascinating art, to be sure. I really like the arrangement in the second shot. The third reminds be somewhat of someone in a T'ai Chi stance.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not sure my pic did it justice, Mitch. It does look drroopy and a bit like a skeleton with arms out-stretched, doesn't it.

      Delete
  2. Thanks for sharing this work of art .

    ReplyDelete
  3. Understated beauty and why not. I bow to Japanese sensitivity.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This was an eye-opener for me. I just have a real need to have real plants inside my house on display at all times. I have settled for potted leafy things in the winter, but this gives me ideas for my coffee table in the front room. I think I need to research this a bit before trying to use the ideas in a cold Canadian winter. Carnations are the fall back on flower here as they are brought in to the grocery store and last so long.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The vases are more straightforward, Karyn. Note the shape though for this school. But for the 'trays' you'll need 'kenzan'.

      Delete