The Art of Arranging Flowers: A Complete Guide to Japanese Ikebana

The growing appreciation of Japanese Art and architecture in the West has extended to the Japanese way with flowers. This book is intended as a complete introduction to Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement. Beginning with the history and development of the art, and its place in Japanese culture, we introduce the reader to the eleven basic styles. Next comes a large section devoted to vases, materials, tools, and methods. Text and pictures explain how to keep flowers fresh, how to select and prepare both fresh and dried materials, and how to make the most effective use of them. Twelve lessons in creating arrangements in the moibana style follow. I have tried to make this the most carefully detailed and profusely illustrated guide of its kind, enabling the reder to create many beautiful arrangements while learning all the necessary techniques of the art. Finally, there is a section devoted to advanced techniques and designs, both classic and modern, and to the setting of mood. Appedixes suggest ways to keep cut flowers fresh, tell how to make effective arrangements from one's own garden flowers and what plant materials to combine, and describe the symbolism of plants and their enhancement. I hope the reader will find this book enjoyable to read, easy to understand, and fun to follow.