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The turn of the 20th century presented a revolution in IKEBANA styles. IKEBANA was by then a popular pastime, almost a requisite for the genteel Japanese woman. Mr. Unshin Ohara, an Ikenobo professor in Kobe, invented a form of IKEBANA done in a low bowl using some of the shorter stemmed western flowers that had been introduced at the beginning of the Meiji era. He asked the Ikenobo school to include this design in their curriculum. The school refused, but he was so highly regarded that they did give him permission to teach his new form in his own school. It seems clear that they doubted that he could. However, his exhibition in a department store in Kobe was an immediate success, and the Ohara School was on its way.
Ohara called his new form MORIBANA, meaning "piled-up", in the sense that it was not like the upright seika style. The MORIBANA style became so popular that already by 1915, most of the IKEBANA schools had incorporated it into their own curriculum; it still remains popular today.
Other Modern Schools
Other IKEBANA schools arose. Koshu Tsujii, a follower of the new MORIBANA, was invited to re-establish a flower school in the Daikakuji Temple in Saga, which still today operates his school as the Saga School. Besides IKEBANA, the Saga School teaches other Japanese arts such as calligraphy. Choka Adachi initiated an "Adachi Style", using the MORIBANA form "to arrange flowers like flowers".
At about the same time, another style which translates as the "literati style" began to attract interest because of its free and colorful approach. Originated by Issotei Nishikawa, it led the way to free creative arrangements.
The chief exponent of this free style was Sofu Teshigahara, who founded the Sogetsu School in 1926. Others in this modern movement -- which resulted in IKEBANA being placed elsewhere than only in the tokonoma -- included the founder of the Ichiyo School.
The three schools that predominate at the present time are Ikenobo, Ohara, and Sogetsu, but more than two thousand different schools of IKEBANA are registered with the Japanese Ministry of Education.
Various schools of Ikebana
Ikenobo: In Japanese Ike means 'pond', while the word 'Bo' means 'a priest's hut'. The two words combine in the name of the family that has headed this form for generations. This is one of the oldest forms of Ikebana and comprises of two sub styles - the Rikka and the Shoka.
The Chiko School: In this school, in addition to the container and floral materials, accessories such as seasonal fruits, vegetables, ornament, doll or other artistic objects are also used. Combining the beauty of flowers with these non-floral materials is intended to represent harmonized refreshment.
The Ichiyo School: This school encourages personal interpretation. Flower arrangement should be a reflection of oneself. Materials are combined together through a natural balance of their weights instead of fastening the materials down.
The Kozan School: In this school, materials are arranged naturally, according to the characteristics of each plant. Here the underlying principle is 'arrange plum trees like plum trees, peach trees like peach trees.' If the heart of the plant is understood properly, the form will reveal itself. The students of this school study the natural characteristics of each plant and do not follow any specific rule or form.
Ohara School: This school emphasizes seasonal qualities, natural growth processes and the beauty of natural environments. Students following this method need to observe nature closely. A new sub-style called Moribana style was evolved, which used wide, shallow containers to arrange flowers. In this form, Ikebana is done in a low bowl, using some of the shorter stemmed western flowers.
Ryusei-Ha: This century old school encourages encouragement and innovation with regard to materials. Students of this school not only master the traditional forms, but they also create free style models that blur the boundaries between flower arrangement and sculpture. Also, instead of artificial containers, natural materials are used as containers. Here, freestyle Ikebana arrangements are practiced.
Saga Goryu: This school's motto is to unite flowers and religion. Before starting the flower arrangement, the person calms himself by reciting a Buddhist chant. This school aims to introduce visual and spiritual pleasure in day to day life through Ikebana. It attempts to enhance people's ability to recognize the beauty of flowers with a refined sense
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