Flower arrangements displayed at city temple
Guests take in the Ohara exhibition at Jade Buddha Temple on Saturday.
An exhibition by the Ohara school of ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, opened at the Jade Buddha Temple on Saturday.
The exhibition opening to the public for free over the weekend features mostly arrangements of chrysanthemum. They were created by ikebana masters from both China and Japan, such as Tan Fangqi, the head of the oriental department of the Ohararyu ikebana.
Among the three schools of ikebana, Ikenobo emphasizes solemnity, Sogetsu has a tendency toward modernity, whereas Ohararyu falls in between, Tan said.
The Japanese art of flora arrangement originated in the mid-15th century under the influence of China.
Buddhists have the tradition to arrange flowers in front of Buddha statues dating back to the Sui Dynasty (AD 581-618), which later developed into Chinese floriculture, said Jue Xing, the abbot of the temple.
The temple promotes traditional culture with the exhibitions, while driving cultural exchanges between China and other nations, the abbot said. Previously, the temple hosted a tea culture performance, inviting masters from China and Japan to showcase their skills.
Built in 1882, the temple itself is one of the city’s most popular sites, attracting 1.2 million visitors a year.
Guests take photos at a flower arrangement exhibition of Ohara school of ikebana at Jade Buddha Temple on Saturday.
A flower arrangement work of Ohara school of ikebana.
A flower arrangement work of Ohara school of ikebana.
A flower arrangement work of Ohara school of ikebana
