Tea ceremony/Ikebana

[Saba]

What is the significance of the tea ceremony in Japanese culture?
Is the art of flower arrangement or ikebana plays an important part in Japanese culture as well?

[Uncle Frank]

Might have to wait for the weekend to get some answers on this one.

Frank

:souka:

[Carrie]

From my personal experience of studying the Tea Ceremony, I would say that it is the lived experience of zen. (so now go study zen) But to me it is the religion of beauty--it is the worship of everything temporal--and the discipline of seeing the true beauty in that which passes, like the flickering orange embers of coals or the whisping eddies of steam from the brazier. As far as it's importance to Japanese culture--the tea ceremony is basically the culmination of Japanese Culture because encompasses knowledge of kimono, calligraphy, flower arranging, food prep., gardening, poetry, pottery, history of the fine arts--it's basically all there.

[caster51]

What is the significance of the tea ceremony in Japanese culture
In my opinion, 一期一会("One encounter, one chance)　is an important thing.
A trifling sickness and the injury might mean the death in old days.
How about the war?
If the goodbye is said, it is not likely to be able never to meet.
that is why they had a tea ceremony with wabi and sabi for so long .....
I think the origin was like that
so if my friend come to meet me from far, I do best to make welcome.
http://www.irontsuba.com/ichigo10.htm

[kuuzo]

Seems to me that it has the same significance as things like cultural crafts or ethnic dance does in the west to the general public - it is a part of the cultural heritage. Having lived in Japan, I can say at least among the current "young" generation, such things are pretty much thought about the same way the "young" generation thinks about those things here - it doesn't really matter all that much to them. But it does have meaning (of a cultural/heritage) significance of the people who do it. Japan is more "westernized" than a lot of people here realize. ("here" meaning "the west")

[Dogen Z]

When I was a child and went to my Japanese friend's home, I was impressed by the floral arrangements that his mom had created. They were not the full-on dozen roses with ferns and babies breath stuck in a vase that we had, but something simpler yet more meaningful. I even saw once what seemed to be weeds from their yard arranged in an sublimely delicate manner. I always meant to learn more about this art, but I never have. I keep telling myself, someday....

http://www.shambhala.org.uk/images/kado.jpg

[Dogen Z]

A few modern schools of ikebana have introduced the use of artificial props such as wires and plastic to enhance the arrangements visual appeal. However, to my mind, such props detract from the arrangements' natural beauty. I prefer the wabi sabi style because of its spirituality.

Here's what Wikipedia says about ikebana's spiritual aspect.

The spiritual aspect of Ikebana is considered very important to its practitioners. Silence is a must during practices of Ikebana. It is a time to appreciate things in nature that people often overlook because of their busy lives. One becomes more patient and tolerant of differences, not only in nature, but also in general. Ikebana can inspire to identify with beauty in all art forms. This is also the time when one feels closeness to nature which provides relaxation for the mind, body, and soul.

http://taylors-gifts.com/static/upload/ikebana.jpg