Japanese Culture & Flowers

A Japanese ikebana arrangement

Japanese culture is filled with long-standing traditions. A large segment of Japanese culture revolves around flowers. Flowers, such as the cherry blossom, play an important role in Japanese history. Much of the floral traditions within Japan date back thousands of years. In some cases, the origins have been lost to time, but the traditions remain part of the culture.

Hanakotoba

Studying the meaning behind flowers was a popular pastime in Victorian times, and floriography spread to Japan as well. Hanakotoba translates roughly to "the language of flowers." This Japanese tradition lets people pick the best flowers for any particular occasion. For example, Silver Dragon Studio's website notes that the violet, known as sumire in Japan, denotes a desire to make someone love you. Carnations represent passion, while jasmine means happiness. New babies may receive flower bouquets made of yamafuji, or wild wisteria, denoting a beautiful birth.

Hanami

The Japanese enjoy the tradition of hanami. Hanami is a spring event in Japan, according to ASIJ Elementary's website, in which families, friends and work colleagues head out to view the blooming cherry blossoms. Cherry blossoms, or sakura, play an important part in Japanese culture, so much that there is an annual festival dedicated to the bloom of the cherry blossom trees. During hanami, people head outside for flower-viewing and take part in picnics in parks. The tradition began with aristocracy during the Heian Period, but spread to the general populace in the Azuchi Momoyama Period. Hanami usually occurs in late March or April.

Ikebana

Ikebana refers to the art of flower arrangement in Japan. While Western floral arrangement rests on what looks pretty, ikebana involves more intricacy. The earliest origins of ikebana are unknown, though the roots of modern ikebana appeared during the Muromachi Period, according to the website Sogetsu Ikebana. Several styles of ikebana exist, as described by the website Japan Zone. Three of the more popular schools of ikebana are Ikenobo, Sogetsu and Ohara. Ikenobo schools focus mainly on a type of ikebana known as rikka, or standing flowers. Ohara schools practice moribana, a style of piling flowers within a flat shallow container and jikuya, a freestyle arrangement. Zen-eibana ikebana is an avant-garde style used within Sogetsu schools. There are thousands of schools across Japan dedicated to teaching students the art of ikebana.

Chabana

Japanese tea ceremonies known as chanoyu receive special floral arrangements in a style known as chabana. Chabana, as noted by the website Chanoyu, has roots within the ikebana style of floral arrangement. However, chabana is less formal than ikebana, with no written rules in place. Chabana arrangements feature seasonal flowers arranged within a vase or basket. The arrangements are placed in the center of the tea table to give the feeling of a natural garden indoors.

Funeral Customs

Japanese funerals have many traditions attached to them, with flowers playing a special part. According to the website Funerals and Flowers, during a process known as Kamindana-fuji, a small table is placed beside the deceased's bed. This table is decorated with flowers, incense and a candle. Once a funeral is nearing the end, family and friends take turns placing flowers within the casket before it is sealed. Japanese people may have a family grave site, known as a haka, which has a stone monument above ground with a crypt below to keep ashes. The monument features a place to hold flowers, incense and water. Family members pay respects to the deceased by placing flowers at the monument.

References

• Sogetsu Ikebana: History of Ikebana
• ASIJ Elementary: Hanami
• Chanyou.com: What is Chabana
• Funerals and Flowers: Japanese Funerals
• TV Tropes: Flower Motifs