Rikka

“Rikka” or standing, upright flowers is the basis of flower arrangement. Almost all of the present forms of Ikebana owe their origin to Rikka, which was perfected five hundred years ago. This is not just a guide book for anyone interested in Ikebana. This is THE COMPLETE BOOK ON RIKKA. It is the most definitive work ever published on this Art. Fujiwara Yuchiku, respected in Japan as the greatest living classical master of Ikebana interprets in detail for the first time the full 29 styles of Classical Rikka. Through the diligent effort of Norman Sparnon, his dedicated student of more than 25 years, the secrets of this beautiful art are revealed in English for the first time. This book explains the philosophy, the origin, the meaning, the creative approach to the smaller styles and how to do them. This is a magnificent and total reference for any serious Western student of Ikebana. The Rikka style of flower arrangement grew out of the ancient Japanese custom of offering plants and flowers to Buddhist or Shintoist deities. In these early days the offerings consisted of three elements—incense, light and flowers. The incense was intended as food for deities or the dead, the light as a reflection of the Universe and the flowers as an expression of adoration for the absolute and omnipotent. From this ancient symbolic beginning successive Ikenobö Masters inspired by the grandeur of nature, created superb classical and modern styles of arranging diverse floral materials which have never been surpassed. Some of the outstanding features of this book are: 30 full page color plates and 22 black & white plates covering the 29 traditional Rikka styles and small and creative Rikka for contemporary living; plus 150 photographs and diagrams showing step- by-step models in the…