Dried Flowers

Shoka ikebana looks simple enough but is one of the most difficult to create. It emerged in the 18th century under Senjo Ikenobo and simplified some of the principles of traditional Rikka. It became very popular among the rising merchant class who preferred this simple arrangement to adorn their homes. And the ease and simplicity with which any shoka arrangement could be created made it popular among women, and was indicative of how accomplished a homemaking woman was. Later, at the time of the Imperial Restoration in 1868, Shoka became the most important form of Ikebana.

Shoka represents growth and life in nature, and therefore before creating any shoka arrangement the creator must know the order of nature where plants grow. The characteristic of “Shussho” or growing towards the sun is one of the most important principles of this arrangement, and therefore the basic pattern of Shoka arrangements is erect, the way plants grow upright in nature. The container in which is the arrangement is done is said to represent the earth from which plants spring and therefore its rim should never be in touch with the arrangement.

A little slant can be incorporated into the arrangement, again as part of the natural order of things. But the arrangement actually emphasizes how life, represented as a plant, has its origins in the earth and then grows towards the heaven in spiritual attainment and freedom.

In Shoka Shofutai the arrangement consists of three yakuedas known as Shin, Soe and Tai, representing man and his desire for earthliness and spiritual freedom. Shin is generally two or three times as tall as the vase and Soe reaches to two-thirds of the Shin. Tai goes up to a third of the Shin. In addition, it is important to remember the sunny side (Yo) and the shade (In) when creating such an arrangement, and Soe should always be placed on the sunny side. Tai moves to the shade.

Shoka Shimputai, on the other hand, is reflective of the Rikka Shimputai and is free from rigid rules applicable to the Shofutai arrangements. Here there are only two yakuedas instead of three and they are Shu and Yo. Additional material called Ashirai are added to create a more unbalanced beauty that stands in contrast to the orderly form of Shofutai. The colour, quantity, and texture used render a Shimputai arrangement more bright and informal than a Shofutai.