Evolution of Flower Symbolism in Japan: An Amplified Significance in Japanese Civilization through Manipulations

Research Article
Open access

Evolution of Flower Symbolism in Japan: An Amplified Significance in Japanese Civilization through Manipulations

Dian Yuan 1*
  • 1 Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA, 19010, United States    
  • *corresponding author yuandian0630@gmail.com
CHR Vol.4
ISSN (Print): 2753-7072
ISSN (Online): 2753-7064
ISBN (Print): 978-1-915371-31-7
ISBN (Online): 978-1-915371-32-4

Abstract

Flowers are an important element of nature, especially in expressing a sense of fragility and impermanence. As people’s appreciation of the beauty of flowers rise, different forms of floral arranging appeared around the world. Japanese people have long-valued Ikebana, the traditional Japanese floral arranging art from aspects not merely observing its beauty. In this work, Ikebana’s functions as media to express sentiments, to assist Zen Buddhism practice which helps practitioners to achieve inner peace, and to reveal gender-related problems throughout history are being explored and analyzed. Ikebana is widely related to many areas of Japan, and with its importance in Japanese history, popular culture, and religion, its symbolistic value can be extended further.

Keywords:

gender, aesthetics, Zen Buddhism, flower symbolism, Ikebana

Yuan,D. (2023). Evolution of Flower Symbolism in Japan: An Amplified Significance in Japanese Civilization through Manipulations. Communications in Humanities Research,4,497-504.
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References

[1]. “History of Flower Arrangement.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, April 26, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_flower_arrangement#:~:text=The%20earliest%20known%20flower%20arranging,and%20simply%20as%20table%20decorations.

[2]. Montmorency, Raven. 2019. “Ancient Culture: Flower Arranging across the World.” Nspirement. August 7, 2019. https://www.nspirement.com/2019/08/07/ancient-culture-flower-arranging-across-the-world.html.

[3]. “Flower Symbolism in Japanese Culture | Examples & Meanings.” 2018. The Japanese Shop Blog. September 24, 2018. https://www.thejapaneseshop.co.uk/blog/flower-symbolism-japanese-culture/

[4]. Drevets, Tricia. 2021. “The Cultural Significance and Symbolism of Japanese Flowers.” 1800Flowers Petal Talk. July 23, 2021. https://www.1800flowers.com/blog/flower-facts/symbolism-of-japanese-flowers/.

[5]. “Kyoto Visitor’s Guide--Ikebana.” 2011. Kyoto Visitor’s Guide. February 13, 2011. http://www.kyotoguide.com/ver2/thismonth/ikebana.html.

[6]. Kawamata, Tsunemasa. n.d. Evening Faces’ Chapter from the Tale of Genji. The Metropolitan Museum. Accessed August 2022. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/671032.

[7]. “Origin of Ikebana.” n.d. Ikenobo. Accessed August 10, 2022. https://www.ikenobo.jp/english/about/history.html#his01.

[8]. Kao irai no Kadensho, Japanese oldest ikebana textbook written in 1486

[9]. Zen Buddhism, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, October 2002

[10]. Shimbo, Shoso. 2007. “The Ten Virtues of Ikebana: Zen and the Way of Flower,” September, page 1–3.

[11]. Suryawati, Cicilia Tantri, and Endang Poerbowati. 2018. “Flower Symbolism in Chanoyu Spirit.” Proceedings of the International Conference of Communication Science Research (ICCSR 2018) 165 (July): 469–71. https://doi.org/10.2991/iccsr-18.2018.104.

[12]. Kurganska, Angelina. 2021. “Chabana — Ikebana Flower Arrangements for the Tea Ceremony.” Path of Cha. December 5, 2021. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pathofcha.com/blogs/all-about-tea/chabana-ikebana-flower-arrangements-for-the-tea-ceremony&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1660842592645452&usg=AOvVaw18tiu53jG09qq3WEgL6-nJ.

[13]. Keene, Donald. 2002. Appreciations of Japanese Culture / Appreciations of Japanese Culture. Tokyo ; New York: Kodansha International.

[14]. Flower symbolism in Japanese Culture

[15]. Kakejiku: Ornament which is hung on the side of the tea room.

[16]. Henshall, Kenneth G. 1999. Dimensions of Japanese Society: Gender, Margins and Mainstream. Basingstoke: Palgrave Mcmillan. page 4

[17]. STALKER, NANCY. 2018. “Flower Empowerment: Rethinking Japan’s Traditional Arts as Women’s Labor.” Edited by Julia C. Bullock, Ayako Kano, and James Welker. JSTOR. University of Hawai’i Press. 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv3zp07j.12.


Cite this article

Yuan,D. (2023). Evolution of Flower Symbolism in Japan: An Amplified Significance in Japanese Civilization through Manipulations. Communications in Humanities Research,4,497-504.

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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the International Conference on Interdisciplinary Humanities and Communication Studies (ICIHCS 2022), Part 2

ISBN:978-1-915371-31-7(Print) / 978-1-915371-32-4(Online)
Editor:Faraz Ali Bughio, David T. Mitchell
Conference website: https://www.icihcs.org/
Conference date: 18 December 2022
Series: Communications in Humanities Research
Volume number: Vol.4
ISSN:2753-7064(Print) / 2753-7072(Online)

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References

[1]. “History of Flower Arrangement.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, April 26, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_flower_arrangement#:~:text=The%20earliest%20known%20flower%20arranging,and%20simply%20as%20table%20decorations.

[2]. Montmorency, Raven. 2019. “Ancient Culture: Flower Arranging across the World.” Nspirement. August 7, 2019. https://www.nspirement.com/2019/08/07/ancient-culture-flower-arranging-across-the-world.html.

[3]. “Flower Symbolism in Japanese Culture | Examples & Meanings.” 2018. The Japanese Shop Blog. September 24, 2018. https://www.thejapaneseshop.co.uk/blog/flower-symbolism-japanese-culture/

[4]. Drevets, Tricia. 2021. “The Cultural Significance and Symbolism of Japanese Flowers.” 1800Flowers Petal Talk. July 23, 2021. https://www.1800flowers.com/blog/flower-facts/symbolism-of-japanese-flowers/.

[5]. “Kyoto Visitor’s Guide--Ikebana.” 2011. Kyoto Visitor’s Guide. February 13, 2011. http://www.kyotoguide.com/ver2/thismonth/ikebana.html.

[6]. Kawamata, Tsunemasa. n.d. Evening Faces’ Chapter from the Tale of Genji. The Metropolitan Museum. Accessed August 2022. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/671032.

[7]. “Origin of Ikebana.” n.d. Ikenobo. Accessed August 10, 2022. https://www.ikenobo.jp/english/about/history.html#his01.

[8]. Kao irai no Kadensho, Japanese oldest ikebana textbook written in 1486

[9]. Zen Buddhism, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, October 2002

[10]. Shimbo, Shoso. 2007. “The Ten Virtues of Ikebana: Zen and the Way of Flower,” September, page 1–3.

[11]. Suryawati, Cicilia Tantri, and Endang Poerbowati. 2018. “Flower Symbolism in Chanoyu Spirit.” Proceedings of the International Conference of Communication Science Research (ICCSR 2018) 165 (July): 469–71. https://doi.org/10.2991/iccsr-18.2018.104.

[12]. Kurganska, Angelina. 2021. “Chabana — Ikebana Flower Arrangements for the Tea Ceremony.” Path of Cha. December 5, 2021. https://www.google.com/url?q=https://pathofcha.com/blogs/all-about-tea/chabana-ikebana-flower-arrangements-for-the-tea-ceremony&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1660842592645452&usg=AOvVaw18tiu53jG09qq3WEgL6-nJ.

[13]. Keene, Donald. 2002. Appreciations of Japanese Culture / Appreciations of Japanese Culture. Tokyo ; New York: Kodansha International.

[14]. Flower symbolism in Japanese Culture

[15]. Kakejiku: Ornament which is hung on the side of the tea room.

[16]. Henshall, Kenneth G. 1999. Dimensions of Japanese Society: Gender, Margins and Mainstream. Basingstoke: Palgrave Mcmillan. page 4

[17]. STALKER, NANCY. 2018. “Flower Empowerment: Rethinking Japan’s Traditional Arts as Women’s Labor.” Edited by Julia C. Bullock, Ayako Kano, and James Welker. JSTOR. University of Hawai’i Press. 2018. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv3zp07j.12.