JAPANESE FLOWER ARRANGEMENT 



brated generals have been masters of this 

 art, finding that it calmed their minds and 

 made clear their decisions for the field of 

 action. That men like Hideyoshi and Yoshi- 

 masa, two of Japan's most famous generals, 

 found benefit in the practise of Ike-bana 

 shows that it is valuable training, even for 

 the masculine mind. Rikkwa reached its 

 greatest popularity during the Genroku 

 Age. 



There were many works on Ike-bana pub- 

 lished in the centuries from Kenei (1206-) 

 to Genroku (1668- 1704). The first was a 

 book called Sendensho, published in the 

 early part of Kenei, and there were many 

 others, but none of much value to the stu- 

 dent of flower arrangement. They gave few 

 rules and their chief object seemed to be 

 to withhold all information. They were all 

 founded on Soami's idea of the three ele- 

 ments. Although these books were value- 

 less as far as instruction is concerned, they 

 were all fully illustrated, and by these pic- 

 tures one can see the gradual progress of 

 [30] 



