Ikenobō is one of the Japanese schools of ikebana.
The history of Ikenobō spans more than five centuries, from its inception at Kyoto’s Rokkaku-dō temple, widely recognized as the birthplace of ikebana.
Founded approximately 1400 years ago according to the Ikenobō school itself, the temple, which is believed to have been established by Prince Shōtoku, housed Buddhist priests who made floral offerings at the temple’s altar. These priests lived near a pond, referred to as ike in Japanese, in a small hut, with the word bō signifying both the hut and the priests it housed. Consequently, the priests became known by the name Ikenobō.
In 1462, the name Ikenobō Senkei first appeared in historical records as the ‘master of flower arranging’. Later, during the late Muromachi period (1338-1573), Ikenobō Senno, the chief priest of Rokkaku-do at that time, laid the philosophical foundations of ikebana. He documented the teachings of Ikenobō in a work titled Senno Kuden.
Senno formalised a fundamental style of ikebana called rikka (‘standing flowers’). Regarded as the most formal style, it typically features vertical flower arrangements in tall, narrow vessels, aiming to represent entire natural landscapes or scenes from nature.
In the 18th century, a simplified iteration of rikka emerged, known as shōka (‘living flowers’, also referred to as Seika). This style incorporates branches, grasses, and flowers, arranged while considering the essential character of a plant as it naturally grows in response to environmental factors. Shōka also emphasises the thoughtful inclusion of empty spaces within arrangements.
Throughout the centuries, successive generations of headmasters of the Ikenobō school have served as head priests at Rokkaku-do temple. The ikebana styles associated with Ikenobō have evolved under the influence of each headmaster.
Presently, only Ikenobō and one other school known as Ryūsei-ha, which originated from Ikenobō in the late 19th Century, teach the rikka and shōka styles.
Dr. Gaye Henson, an Ikenobō practitioner who regularly creates displays for Japan House London, explains that natural, seasonal materials are at the heart of Ikenobō displays, aiming to “express the beauty of nature without reproducing exactly what a plant or a flower looks like.”
Explore the exquisite artistry of ikebana through monthly changing displays at Japan House London, skilfully crafted by members of the Ikebana International London Chapter.
Thank you to Dr. Gaye Henson for contributing to this article.