Buddist-inspiried ikebana is a contemplative art

Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arranging. It's a tradition that goes back centuries, and its design principles are governed by specific rules and techniques. But as with any art, creativity and self-expression are part of the process. And while it takes years of study to earn teaching credentials in ikebana, it's possible to pick up a basic introduction to the craft in a lesson or two.

It's not just about the flowers

For Westerners accustomed to vases overflowing with blossoms and rich colors, the ikebana aesthetic can be hard to grasp.

"Usually the flowers are not as prominent as they would be in a Western-style arrangement," said Lauren Paul, president of the Detroit chapter of Ikebana International, an organization that has 165 chapters in 29 U.S. states and more than 50 countries.

Instead, the focus of an ikebana arrangement is typically on the sculptural line created by the tallest branch and the space around it. Most arrangements have just a few flowers, and always an uneven number of them. The overall impression is minimalist and asymmetrical, yet harmonious and balanced.

The ikebana philosophy also stresses an appreciation of nature. Part of learning the craft involves "looking around and noticing plants in a different way, and saying, 'I bet I could use this in my arrangement,' " Paul said.

Seedpods, ornamental grasses with plumes, evergreens, moss, buds and leafy stems are all fair game.

Buddhist origins

Ikebana originated in the Buddhist practice of offering flowers at temple altars. Monks began creating elaborate arrangements with the flowers, and the tradition spread.

The proportions that govern traditional ikebana designs are still described in terms of religious symbolism. The tallest branch represents heaven. A second stem that's two-thirds the height of the tallest element represents man. A final component, symbolizing earth, is a third smaller than the middle-size element, hovering near the base of the arrangement.

The kenzan

A small, round, spiked block called a kenzan is essential to creating any ikebana design. Stems and branches are inserted into the kenzan's spikes to keep them upright. A 3-inch diameter kenzan is ideal, according to Paul.

The kenzan, placed in a ceramic bowl or dish, is then covered with water. But there's no need to buy a special container. You could even start out using a baking dish, Paul said.

Placing flowers and branches on the kenzan is merely the first step. Ikebana is a contemplative art, not something to be rushed through the way you might throw flowers in a vase moments before guests arrive, snipping a few leaves or moving a stem and calling it done.

Look for the line

Creating an ikebana display involves identifying the most powerful, eye-catching lines of your design, then manipulating the components to emphasize the strongest angles by gently bending stems and trimming leaves. Just as you would revise and improve a drawing, sculpture or poem, creating an ikebana display means considering, reconsidering, and tweaking your design over and over.

"The philosophy behind the study of ikebana is that it is a meditative art and that your inner self comes out in the arrangement you make," Paul said.

She suggests looking at the line created by the dominant branch as if it were a brush stroke on a painting. You'll want plenty of empty space around that line to highlight it. That means cutting back any stems or leaves that interfere.

The hard part for beginners, once you start trimming, "is knowing when to stop, knowing when it's finished," said Paul.

So, go slow with the clippers. You don't want your arrangement to be too spare.

Angles can vary too, depending on the material. "If you're using a straight branch or flower, the arrangement will be in the upright style, more up and down. If you're using a branch like a willow that flows, an arching kind of branch, your style will be more of a leaning or cascading style and your angles are going to be more lateral, more sideways," Paul said.

Getting started

Paul got involved in Ikebana International in 1987 after taking a class at a community center. Today she runs the Detroit chapter and also teaches. There are many schools of ikebana, and her specialty is Ikenobo, the oldest and most traditional.

For those interested in learning more, www.ikebanahq.org is a good place to start. You can see examples of different styles on the site and find a local chapter to ask about classes. Among the many books on the topic, Paul says a good guide for beginners is "Ikebana: The Art of Arranging Flowers" by Shozo Sato and Kasen Yoshimura.

If you do take a class, be prepared for teachers who may want to "take apart your whole arrangement and rebuild it for you," Paul said. "It's sometimes hard to accept because they tell you on the one hand, this is a reflection of you, but on the other hand, they do it their way. It's a hard idea to grasp, but your design still has to conform to the rules."