CHAPTER TWO 



THE THEORY OF JAPANESE 

 FLOWER ARRANGEMENT 



THE theory of this art, for so the Jap- 

 anese consider it, is not only inter- 

 esting but is as helpful in producing 

 the beautiful results as the few flexible rules; 

 and the theory is as inseparable from these 

 rules as the early history of Japan is from its 

 mythology. Religion also contributes to this 

 theory. Since flower arrangement entered 

 Japan from China with Buddhism, it natu- 

 rally was imbued with Chinese and Buddhist 

 philosophy. The Buddhist desire to pre- 

 serve life lies at the root of the whole subject 

 and has created most of the rules of flower 

 arrangement, controlling also the shapes of 

 the flower vases, which are so formed as to 

 help to prolong the life of the flowers. So 

 much thought and time would never have 



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