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Encyclopedia ID 98

Ikebana

Also known as 生け花 · flower arrangement

Ikebana: photograph by Gryffindor
Photo: Gryffindor, CC0, source on Wikimedia Commons

Choose stems and place them at set angles and heights in a vase to meet a style guide, then get scored on balance and space.

Heritage note

Part of the living heritage of Japan. Some forms of this practice carry deep meaning for the communities who keep it; here we describe the play and the craft only, with respect for its roots.

Origins

A living tradition passed from person to person; it is not tied to a single dated origin. It belongs to the cultural world of Japan and Korea.

Sources

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