How does ikebana differ from other floral arranging styles?
A. The Japanese attitude toward floral arrangement is deeper and more spiritual than the Western approach to floral design. Ikebana arrangements strive to express the wondrous creations of Nature, on a reduced scale. Two important philosophies of ikebana are that the arrangement must fit the environment in which it is displayed; and that the individual arranger’s emotions and character are to be expressed in the arrangement. Thus, it is not just flowers in a vase it is considered to be an art of human communication. In contrast to most Western floral design, ikebana compositions are based on asymmetry, requiring specialized artistic development and specific technical expertise on the part of the arranger. Ikebana is noted for its mastery of proportional harmony between the flowers, vase, and setting. Its uniquely beautiful proportions made a permanent impact on Western-style floral design. The “moribana” style arrangements in a low, wide, basin-like container is unique to the world of
