Review
"As artful as a flower arrangement, this succinct, powerful book instructs as well as inspires. From historical overview to stylistic differentiation, and from meditative exercises to basic principles to step-by-step design, this is a wonderful work that will enrich anyone's personal Way of self-cultivation." -Stephen M. Fabian, Ph.D., author of Clearing Away Clouds: Nine Lessons for Life from the Martial Arts
Product Description
This second volume of "moving meditations" shows how simple Japanese flower arranging (ikebana) techniques can be used to refresh the body and restore the spirit. Emphasizing that ikebana is first and foremost a "Way"--a spiritual and meditative art--the book offers solid grounding in Japanese aesthetics and philosophy, with references to Zen, tea ceremony, and other traditional Japanese arts. Line drawings and color photographs show step-by-step arrangements especially for beginners and casual practitioners.
From the Publisher
The Japanese Way of the Flower: Ikebana as Moving Meditation is part of Stone Bridge Press's MICHI: JAPANESE ARTS AND WAYS series. From chado--"the Way of tea"--to budo--"the martial Way"--Japan has succeeded in spiritualizing a number of classical arts. The names of these skills often end in Do, also pronounced Michi, meaning the "Way." By studying a Way in detail, we discover vital principles that transcend the art and relate more broadly to the art of living itself. Featuring the work of H. E. Davey and other select authors, books in the series MICHI: JAPANESE ARTS AND WAYS focus on these Do forms. They are about discipline and spirituality, about moving from the particular to the universal... to benefit people of any culture.
From the Author
Kado is Japanese flower arrangement. It means, “the Way of flowers,” and it’s one of numerous Japanese arts ending in “Do,” indicating “the Way.” Nonetheless, how these arts function as Ways isn’t always understood.
It’s common to state that kado is a Way of life (thus the designation “Do”), and that by practicing, we can transcend it and grasp the art of living. While this is true, it’s uncommon to find a teacher (or book) that can explain how floral art leads to spiritual realization. While some books pay lip service to the ideal of the Way producing spiritual evolution, they also sometimes fail to offer direct explanations and methodologies to help students realize the Way. It’s frequently assumed that merely manipulating flowers will produce profound realizations.
This is untrue and unfortunate. It’s untrue because it’s the manner in which we approach the Ways that determines what we learn from them. Spiritual realization isn’t guaranteed.
It’s unfortunate because the conscious practice of Japanese Do forms truly can result in the cultivation of mind and body. But to use flower arrangement as meditation, we must investigate exactly how it can lead to realization.
The kado’s been the subject of numerous books. Few of these works, however, have explored how it goes beyond floral sculpture and enters into spirituality. Even fewer have offered methods to practice what can be thought of as “flower meditation,” and which are needed for personal growth to take place.
Our book was written to answer that need.
About the Authors
H. E. Davey is the founder and director of the Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts and the author of Brush Meditation: A Japanese Way to Mind & Body Harmony.
Ann Kameoka is a certified instructor in Ikenobo-style ikebana. Both she and co-author H. E. Davey live in the San Francisco Bay Area.
