Ikebana is a traditional Japanese flower art. The word Ikebana is a combination of two words,
ike and bana. In Japanese it means arrangement and bana means flowers. Ikebana is the artful
arrangement of flowers. Different books include Living Flowers, Way of Flowers, Bringing
Flowers to Life, Living Flowers etc. The purpose behind Ikebana is not only to appreciate the
delicacy of nature, but to embrace it in our daily lives. It’s not just arranging flowers in a
container, its bridging the gap between nature and humanity, a way to recognize and integrate
nature more deeply into our lives. Every form of nature like flowers, leaves and twigs, roots,
even tender leaves are used in Ikebana. While buds hold the future, flowers speak for the
present and cultured leaves represent the past.

Ikebana, like other Japanese art forms, has philosophical, spiritual values. The three
main pillars of the Ikebana arrangement are valued as Heaven, Man and Earth. The long main
stem is considered Heaven, the mediator is called Man and the shorter stem is called Earth.
Man is credited with maintaining the balance between Heaven and Earth. A humble Ikebana
arrangement reveals to us a simple yet rooted logic.

The origin of this art is linked with “Buddhism” which was imported to Japan via Korea
through China from India. Offering flowers before the statue of Lord Buddha was a part of
the worship. The reason of immediate popularity of Buddhism was not only its simplicity but
the acceptance of every human without any judgement of his personality or character.
Wherever the followers went, they spread their religion and mingled well with the local
population.

it was formally introduced and developed by the Buddhist priest and master of the Ikenobo
school, Senno Ikenobo. He is credited with establishing the first systematic rules for floral
arranging in the 15th century. Ikebana has since evolved into various schools and styles, each
with its own principles and techniques. Ikenobo is considered the oldest and most traditional
school of Ikebana. It is said there are more than 3000 thousand Ikebana schools. Ikebana
school carries its own unique characteristics. The diversity among Ikebana schools arises
from variations in teaching methods, principles, and even the choice of materials sometimes.
The school places importance on specific techniques and styles passed down through
generations.

I practice Ohara Ikebana. The beauty of Ohara School is in the balance it creates, between
being modern yet carrying the fragrance of traditional Ikebana along with it. It is very popular
school in India and worldwide specially in my city Hyderabad where only Ohara ikebana is
practiced since four generations. I say so proudly !! when my students started learning and
teaching, the founder of Our chapter Mrs Meena Anantnarayn complemented me calling
herself great grandmother of my students.

Ikebana's focus on using natural and seasonal materials promotes environmental awareness.
Practitioners often appreciate the beauty of impermanence and the cycle of nature, fostering a
sense of responsibility towards the environment. Ikebana cultivates an appreciation for beauty
and aesthetics. Through the careful arrangement of flowers, practitioners learn to see and
appreciate the subtle details, proportions, and harmonies in their surroundings. This
heightened aesthetic sensibility can extend beyond Ikebana, influencing one’s appreciation of
art and design in various aspects of life