THE FLOWER ART OF JAPAN 



The second illustration in this chapter, 

 of lotus, requires no further explanation, 

 but will be a guide in making similar 

 arrangements. 



The Japanese use trees also in low vases 

 as the illustrations show, especially such 

 trees as grow near the water, and maples, 

 the color of which makes such enchanting 

 reflections. 



In old books will be seen an illustration 

 of a plum tree where one branch dips into 

 the water of the vase and out again. This 

 may become of greater interest when the 

 legend of its origin is understood, for, as 

 a rule, plums are not arranged in low 

 vases. 



So Ho, the founder of the Enshiu School, 

 going on a hunting expedition, saw a large 

 plum tree, one branch of which bent into 

 the river below, the extreme end rising 

 upward again, covered with blossoms. 

 Being struck with the beauty of the effect, 

 he at once applied the suggestion given 

 by nature to an arrangement of plum 

 [no] 



