Ikenobo

With each new IKEBANA arrangement, IKENOBO continues a tradition of creativity that began over 550 years ago. IKENOBO is based in Kyoto, Japan, at Choho-ji (Rokkaku-do) Temple, a temple said to have been founded by Prince Shotoku.

The Japanese word IKE means“pond,” while the word BO means “a priest’s hut.” Suggesting a priest’s hut next to a pond, the two words combine in the name of the family that has headed this school of IKEBANA, IKE-NO-BO. Succeeding generations of priests were famous for their skill in arranging flowers, and IKENOBO thus became “the origin of IKEBANA.”

RIKKA Style

Just like many other aspects of traditional Japanese culture, IKEBANA has its origins in the Muromachi Period (1338-1573) in Japan. Senkei Ikenobo was known as an early master of RIKKA style. RIKKA is a formal upright style with its roots in early religious floral offerings; later RIKKA portrayed the beauty of a natural landscape. In the late Muromachi Period, Senno Ikenobo elucidated the essence of IKEBANA for the first time in a famous teaching manuscript,”SENNO KUDEN”.

SHOKA Style

In the early 17th century, Senko Ikenobo Ⅰ and Senko Ikenobo Ⅱ perfected the dignity and character of the RIKKA style. In the early 1800’s, Senjo Ikenobo perfected the SHOKA style. SHOKA is a simple, graceful style suggesting the essential character of a plant as it grows in response to the factors in its natural environment. Senjo was followed by masters Senmyo and Sensho, with each generation’s work reflecting the artistic character of the time and further strengthening IKEBANA’s position as an essential part of Japanese culture.

IKENOBO’s current 45th generation Headmaster, Sen’ei Ikenobo, believes that the possibility of creating new IKEBANA depends on the desire to refine one’s own character, a spirit that has been passed down to us as the essence of IKEBANA itself.

As a continuing center in the world of ikebana, the IKENOBO Headquarters stands adjacent to Rokkaku-do Temple, where ikebana began over 550 years ago. The Headquarters is home for communication, ongoing, study, and workshops for IKENOBO’s IKEBANA professors and students from throughout Japan and the rest of the world. Here at the center of IKENOBO’s rich tradition, students receive both classical training and encouragement to explore modern IKEBANA’s use in contemporary life, including modern RIKKA, SHOKA, and free styles.