Esprit Bonsai International – August 2019

76 - EspritBonsaiInternational #101

Ikebana
Ohara

Every human being knows that water

is intrinsic to our life, our existence. Now that we are

back in the summer season again, for anyone who

practises an oriental discipline such as bonsai, the

tea ceremony, brush painting or, above all, ikebana,

the subject is worthy of our full attention.

Firstly, as Earth-dwellers, our bodies need not only

food, but also water. Although they can easily do

without the former for a few hours or days, it is diffi-

cult for them to be deprived of this vital element for

a similar period.

Every ikebanist would like their arrangement to

last the longest possible time, and that time varies

greatly depending on the chosen types of plants. This

is not the most crucial aspect in ikebana, although it

is important to choose good-quality plant material.

It is also important to clean the stems, put them in

water as soon as possible after they have been picked

and before arranging them, and use pure, clear water

to plunge the material into.

Displaying the water

There are a number of plant conservation tech-

niques in existence. From the most chemical to the

most complex, they are not always effective: alcohol,

vinegar ... But one single technique is very simple

and effective! With water, you can quite easily get

gerberas to recover from the shock of being taken out

of a cold room, and can bathe roses so that they will

last longer in vases. Without water it would not be

possible either to “give flowers a new life” – a trans-

lation of the word “ikebana”.

In the same vein, bonsai growers are well aware

of how to detect the needs of their potted trees, as

well as the symptoms of either too much or too little

water – both equally harmful.

Likewise in ikebana, water is of paramount im-

portance. For the Ohara School, it is considered a

compositional element in its own right. While the

container and choice of plants of course needs to be

harmonious, the presence of water is also taken into

account. Even if it is not itself visible in the arrange-

ment, it must be able to be implied and enrich the

balance of the composition.

In summer, the water should be displayed more

prominently, because it symbolises vitality and

conjures a sense of freshness. On the other hand, in

� � � Water is crucial for flowers – so much so that it has become

a featured element in compositions by the Ohara School of

ikebana.

Ikebana and water

are life sources

Author: Damien Dufour

� Tokyo in Summer Rain. Driftwood, hydrangea, and

branch of Ginkgo biloba, symbol of the city of Tokyo.