Ikebana is an art form in which branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits of cut plants are used as materials and reconfigured into a floral work through certain technical and artistic processing.

The origin of the art of ikebana should be attributed to people's love for flowers, the framing of flowers, expressing the mood to experience the reality and splendor of life. It can be divided into ceremonial ikebana and artistic ikebana.

Ceremonial ikebana is used for social etiquette and wedding and funeral occasions with specific purposes. It can convey friendship, affection, love, welcome, respect, celebration, condolence, mourning, etc. The form is often more fixed and simple.

Artistic ikebana is a type of ikebana that is not specifically required to have the function of social etiquette but is mainly used for artistic appreciation and beautification of the decorative environment.

The art of ikebana has the following characteristics.

1. Temporarily

Ikebana works for the creation and appreciation of a short period of time, belonging to the rapid, temporary art appreciation activities. The creator and the admirer are required to make good use of time and taste.

2. Randomness

Ikebana can be simple or complicated and can be created and expressed according to the needs of different occasions and the author's own interest.

3. Decorative

Ikebana works of art are very strong, and have the fastest beautifying effect, with immediate effect and a strong role in setting the atmosphere. Ikebanas are used to decorate the home, whether it is the living room or bedroom, placed in a bottle of beautifully shaped, appropriate color arrangements, which will make the room vibrant, and spring.

4. Vitality

Ikebana is a living artwork, mainly with the fresh plants as the material, the flower material is colorful, fragrant, and fresh, a unique natural atmosphere. This painting, sculpture, calligraphy and other plastic arts do not have, can give people a beautiful, elegant enjoyment.

Some tips for ikebana.

1. Choose the flower material

The choice of flowers is very arbitrary, in a word, as long as you like it. Like the common peony, chrysanthemum, lotus, stargazer, begonia, jasmine, and so on, you can choose your own.

2. The quality of flowers

The flower material should be selected from the buds that will open, and cut with scissors to the right size, to choose the flowers and leaves. There are no pests or diseases, and the flowers with broken and inferior branches are of the highest quality. If you are buying fresh-cut flowers, you must also follow this method to choose the better ones.

3. The right vase

The vase for ikebana is mainly to be antique, generous, elegant, and clean and can play a complementary role with the flowers to be appropriate. If the material of the vase is light, you can fill the vase with some stones or other weights to prevent top-heavy.

4. Pay attention to water quality

The water used for ikebana is preferably rainwater, fish water and lake water, and other natural water. If it is tap water, you need to use the water that has been resting for a few days.

The above-mentioned will already allow you to make a nice ikebana from a beginner. If you like it, try it!