Harnessing the creative potential of Ikebana in promoting personal well‐being
| Date | 18 August 2010 |
| Pages | 30-35 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5042/mhsi.2010.0442 |
| Published date | 18 August 2010 |
| Author | Annie Lau |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Mental Health and Social Inclusion • Volume 14 Issue 3 • August 2010 © Pier Professional Ltd30
10.5042/mhsi.2010.0442
strict rules govern the proportions, placement and
direction of the main materials. The three main lines
are essentially the same in all of the schools; the first
line represents heaven, the second line man, and the
third line, earth. Man is held between heaven and
earth, existing in harmony. Other interpretations of
the three main lines signify the future, present and
past. An arrangement can be made from one type
of material, such as Irish yew, aspidistra, or broom.
These arrangements have an austerity deriving from
the influence of Zen Buddhism. The completed
arrangement is displayed in a tokonama, an alcove
in traditional Japanese homes with fixed proportions;
six feet high, six feet wide, and three feet deep, with
tatami or rush mats on the floor.
When viewing a classical Shoka from the front, the
observer is the focus of the arrangement. The main
lines go towards the observer; in the basic upright
style, for example, the main line moves towards
A brief historical
introduction to Ikebana
Typical of Oriental traditions, Ikebana instructions
are not written down in textbooks, though drawings
of classical forms have come down through
the centuries. One learns through long years of
apprenticeship, via an oral tradition of instruction,
observation of the master, and continual practice in
the search for perfection.
Ikebana, Japanese flower arrangement, is a
meditative art form, with roots in Japanese artistic
traditions that go back to the sixth century AD.
Originally introduced from China, Buddhist priests
used floral arrangements in temples as part of worship
to the Buddha, where they were one of the three
traditional offerings, along with candles and incense.
The Seika, or Shoka, style developed towards the
end of the 18th century, and the rules have come
down to the present day. In the classical schools,
Harnessing the
creative potential of
Ikebana in promoting
personal well-being
WELL-BEING
Annie Lau
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, North East London Foundation Trust
Abstract
The author of this article is a Consultant in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and also a student of Ikebana,
Japanese flower arrangement. Her Ikebana master since 1978 has been Takashi Sawano, a Master of the
Kohdoh School. In this article, the author shares her experiences of studying and practising Ikebana over
the last 30 years, and how it can be used to promote personal well-being and creativity. This has included
developing a Japanese sanctuary garden within a mental health service setting and running Ikebana workshops
for staff and patients to promote well-being and to explore creativity.
Key words
Japanese flower arrangement; Mental health promotion; Well-being; Ikebana; Arts
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