THE FLOWER ART OF JAPAN 



pine with an arrow in the center, notice the 

 shape of the vase, which is supposed to 

 represent a crane, also a symbol of long 

 life, and much venerated by the people, 

 for in olden times nobody was allowed to 

 shoot one of these birds without an order 

 from the emperor. The stand beneath the 

 vase forms a tortoise which means happiness, 

 long life, and also good luck; the inserted 

 arrow forms a protection against prey or 

 enemy. 



It would be possible to go on indefinitely 

 describing these symbolical arrangements, 

 but, as they are merely attractive methods 

 of suggesting history and legend only known 

 to comparatively few out of Japan, they 

 can be of little aid to the student of Flower 

 Art in other lands. 





