Evening star., 1900-01-13
FLOWER ARRANGEMENT
The Art is Very Highly Regarded ia
Japan.
knowledge of the Condition. Under
Which They Grow is
indispensable.
Theodore Wores in Scribner'- Magazine

Theodore Nores in Scribner'- Magazine
In Japan the art Of flower arrang cment 10
as highly regarded as music. poetry or
painting, and in order that one may beco ma
expert therein, it is deemed necessary TO
devote quite as much attention time and
study to this as to any other form of art
We look upon flower arrangement in sen
eral as merely the result of individual
taste, but a Japanese regards it from very
different point Of view. He is governed in
this accomplishment by numerous and we'll
defined rules, which can only he acquired
by long and patient study. 1t would be i'm
possible, without this knowledge to COM
pose an arrangement of flowers which
would meet with the approval Of Comoa-
tent critics. 1t would, in fact. be quite
hopeless as for a musician to compose great
masterpieces of music without previous
training and careful study. The art If
flower arrangement Is not only practicrd by
women and girls, but by men as well. for
Ii Is an accomplishment indispensable" 10
all who would make any pretense To learn
ing and culture.
In spite of the fact that flowers are 50 in
separately associated with everything Jap
anese. it would be a mistake to assumr nat
Japan is a land of flowers. for wild. we'll
as garden flowers are far more protuSa in
many sections of this country. Japan Is,
however. rich in cultivated flowers. that are
grown in great prOfuSiun in garden and
nursery in the suburbs Of all the cities.
Flower sellers. carrying their fragrant bur
denS in huge baskets. are met with every
where and they are patronized by the poor
well by the rich, for the prices are now
enough to bring them within the reach OF
all Although there are many varieties n
flowers. few, comparatively, are used in
flower arrangement. for the Japane Sc limit
their choice to those with which they are
most familiar and such as are most closely
associated with the different months or sCa-
sons seldom or never using rare or un-
known flowers The reason given for this
is that a thorough knowledge of the char
acter of the flowers and the conditions an
der which they grow is Indispensable, in
order that a proper and effective Use Of
them may be made. The following may lie
mentioned as the popular flowers of Japan.
and most closely associated by the Japan
eSe with the different seasons of the year:
The first to appear is the plum blossom,
which is hailed with delight as the har-
binger Of spring, and enjoys, therefore. the
greatest popularity. The plum Is closely
followed by the cherry blossom. which al
most rivals the former as a favorite. The
reNt, and the last of the spring h0wers, is
the wistaria. Summers flowers include the
peony, iris and the lotus; while autumn
claims one of the chief favorites, the chrys-
anthemum, and also the morning glory.
Certain flowers are considered lucky and
others unlucky-the latter including all
such are supposed to possess poisonous
qualities. found. for instance. that one OF
the wild flowers, a beautiful scarlet lily,
known as the shibuta-no-Eanna, which L
greatly admired, was TtSdTueu WIFI N4n-
favor and was never used for decoration or
flower arrangement for the reason that II
vas a flower of ill-omen. On the other
hand. favorite arrangement, formed of
combination of pine, bamboo and plum
blossoms is symbolic of good luck and
everlasting happiness. 1t is frequently used
on festive occasions and figures conspicu-
ously in the New Year decorations that
are arranged over gate and doorway.
Great quantities of cut flowers were used
for embellIshing the houses Of the wealthy.
and a blossom Of some kind was nearly al
ways presented to guest at a banquet.
just as at the present day We are given
our 'buttonhole" at house party-a pretty
custom and ancient one. In his tomb
Nekht is depicted presenting Thothmes III
with a huge bouquet, five feet high, and
composed of papyrus. lotus flowers. corn
fewers and poppies interspersed here and
there with fragrant fruits of the mimusops.
a tree not now found In the gardens OF
Egypt. but well known at the present day
in India. Some of these garlands have been
found in the ancient cemeteries OF Egypt
buried with the dead