Koryu School - Ikebana International

Koryu Toyokai Suibokuka Temae

“While experiencing Ikebana, which is made up of the harmonious beauty of all things, we learn about the preciousness of nature and the spirit of the circle between nature and people, and between people. I would also like you to understand that by merging living, beautiful plants with the gentle and noble human heart, you can create flowers that will impress those who see them for the first time. To achieve this, please fully learn the basics of arranging, hone your skills and spirit, and arrange flowers that are full of individuality. We hope that you will place graceful flowers in accordance with our school’s basic principles of respecting etiquette, loving nature, and getting along with each other in the spirit of ‘man and nature being one’.” Riharu Hattori

Founded by Rishun Hattori (1912-2003). Follows classical Koryu from Edo period. Toyo means ‘East’, stands for love of nature, people and values harmony that we are through perusing to spread all over the world through ikebana.

We believe that flowers are most beautiful when they are in nature, we aim to express that beauty with care, and value the spirit of living. The heart that arranges flowers is the heart that loves flowers and the heart that cherishes life. It was named “Koryu Toyo-kai” because its spirituality is connected to Oriental ideas that have been passed down to Japan since ancient times. Suibokuhana Tenmae means ink painting flowers , it is a creation of the fusion of Japanese spirit and traditional art. This is our unique Hanatenmae, which incorporates the beautiful and elegant manners of the tea ceremony and the recitation of waka poems in the process of arranging flowers. Its Japanese beauty and elegance have received high praise internationally, and Suibokuhana-temae is performed as a flower arrangement demonstration all over the world.

Styles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A99CglySiXs&ab_channel=RijoMIYAMOTO-IkebanaMaster

1. SEIKA

Seika – style appeared in 15-th century. It is often translated to English as Live flowers. Shin (heaven (the thing that creates) ), nagashi (humans (the in-between thing that harmonizes)), uke (earth (the thing that nurtures) )– 3 terms for the three principal stems in the Koryu School appear as single stem, great care is taken to ac heave the subtle balance between the faces and the backs of the branches and leaves. Seika represents the ideal tree. There are 5 seika forms: Honte-uke – upright form, Uke-nagashi-ike – open crescent like form with low uke, Chui-nagashi-uke where nagashi comes out higher, shape with high center of gravity, Nagashi-ike with longer nagashi – slanted style, Yose-ike, advanced variation of seika where 3 shapes arranged together. Seika classic arrangement is placed in classic bronze usubata or zundo vase or bamboo vase the stems are mounted in center of the vase using komi- Y or V shaped stick of rose of sharon or other suitable branch. Seika arranged in shallow compote shape vase will use ukezuke (heavy cilinder with kenzan at the bottom or without used to place komi stick in it).

2. NAGAIRE

Nagaire – thrown in flowers. The fundamental purpose of the style is to preserver the beauty of nature as directly and as simply s possible. Nagaire style is placed in taller-deep container. Variety of materials can be used bronze, porcelain, ceramic, metal glass to express harmony between container and flowers. Depending on type of flowers up right or slanted styles are used.

Nagaere l https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhdHvFawD5I&ab_channel=RijoMIYAMOTO-IkebanaMaster

3. MORIBANA

Moribana – piled up flowers. Originated towards end of 19^th century. Moribana arrangements are made in shallow containers called suiban or pedestal compote or bowls. Often kenzan is used to mount flowers. There is rittai – upright form, syatai – slanted form, chokujo- vertical form and crescent shaped form dai-zen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-tjJ8oYKp8&ab_channel=RIJO%E7%94%9F%E3%81%91%E8%8A%B1%E3%83%81%E3%83%A3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%AB

SUIBOKUKA STYLE – ink flowers

Suibokuka Shinkei. Upright style

Most prestigious, formal style in Japanese ikebana is the one having the tallest centerpiece among the others, it is used in celebratory occasions like a ceremony . Chinese symbols for Shinkei consist of Shin (truth) and Kei (scenery). Shinkei is style depicting healthy growth, and implication of eternity is Shinkei.