APPENDIX 



355 



Although one of my objects is to show how much the 

 English method may be improved without too great a sub- 

 servience to the strictest laws of the Japanese art, yet it would 

 be difficult to make myself understood by the uninitiated without 

 first giving an outline of that science, which was originally, it is 

 supposed, a religious rite, and which to-day is still a much- 

 reverenced art in Japan. For this purpose I shall quote freely 

 from Mr. Conder's book, as it would be impossible to improve 



JAPANESE HOSE {rOSA BUOOSa) IS A METAL VASE 



upon his lucid and concise treatment of the subject. The 

 following are selected as the most important rules to be 

 observed : — 



The surface ol the water in which the flowers are placed is 

 technically considered to be the soil from which the floral 

 growth springs, and the designer must here convey the impres- 

 sion of stability and strength. 



The springing, or point of origin of the floral group, is 



A A 2 



