Rikka style

From the late Kamakura period to the Muromachi period (late 13th -16th century), flower arranging contests were held at the imperial court on the day of Tanabata (the festival of the star Vega, the seventh day of the seventh lunar month). These contests were called Tanabata-e . Aristocrats and monks vied with each other in demonstrating their skills, offering flowers in honor of the festival.

Use of the family name Ikenobō was granted by the Emperor of the time. Succeeding generations of head priests of the temple used this name.

Toward the end of the Muromachi period the earlier simple way of setting flowers in a vase developed into tatehana (tateru, standing; hana, flowers), a more complex style of ikebana. During this period the oldest extant manuscript of ikebana (Kao irai no Kadensho, 1486) and the famous manuscript about ikebana by Ikenobō Senno (Senno Kuden, 1542) were written. Senno, the founder of Ikenobō kadō, originated ikebana that was imbued with meaning (kadō or way of flowers). Previously, tatehana had more of a connection to the spiritual practice of Yorishiro.

The Azuchi-Momoyama period (late 16th century) brought a renaissance in ikebana as part of a cultural renaissance. Two Ikenobō masters named Senkō I and II, completed the rikka (立花) style (also meaning standing flowers, but with more complexity than tatehana) and Ikenobō reached a high point of its early history. Paintings depicting the rikka of Senkō II, a famous master of ikenobō, are preserved at the Manshuin Temple in Kyoto) the Yomei-bunko library of the Ninnaji Temple in Kyoto, the Tokyo National Museum and the library of ikenobō headquarters. The arranging of rikka as a style with severn main parts later developed into the modern standard nine part rikka (shin, soe, uke, mikoshi, nagashi, doe, hikai, maeoki, and shoe-shin) was established at this time.

After Senkō II died, rikka gradually became more complex and mannered. The birth of the shōka style of ikebana brought new interest into the world of ikebana. After his death, an at times violent feud broke out between his two main disciples Daijuin Ishin and Anryūbō Shūgyoku about the direction of the school.

• Rikka arrangement by Shūgyoku (from Rikka-zu narabini Sunamono-zu)
• Rikka arrangement by Daijuin (from Daijuin Rikka Sunamono-zu)

From Nageirebana to Shōka style

Nageirebana (投入花), a more informal style of arrangement, had been practiced even during the earlier period when rikka was developing. Nageirebana was a style of decoration for the zashiki, while rikka, the most formal style, was used for rites and ceremonies. The townspeople favored nageirebana, which presented the natural beauty of flowers without complicated rules.

In 1684, Toichiya Taemon, a merchant, wrote the Nageire Kadensho (How to arrange flowers in Nageire style), and in 1697, Kodai Shōka Zukan (Collected Paintings of Historic Shōka Works) by Ikenobō Sen'yō was published. Nageire influenced the development of early work in the shōka (生花) style. Shōka at this time was very simple. Only two main branches (or flowers), one of which was called in (negative) and the other yo (positive), were used in arranging the work. These would later develop into three main parts, called shin, soe and tai.

The shōka style developed over a long period, with many schools of ikebana other than Ikenobō appeared. Shōka was firmly established in Ikenobō Senjo's work Soka Hyakki (One Hundred Examples of Ikebana, 1820).^[1] He also edited Heika Yodo-shu, in which the traditional methods of rikka were described in detail.

In the Meiji era (1868–1912), Ikenobō Senshō set down the regulations of shofutai shōka, shofutai meaning orthodox or traditional style.^[1] Mannerism again began to appear. Efforts to break away from mannerism were not successful until the Taishō era (1912–1926). The styles of modern nageire and moribana and modern styles of shōka were the result. These styles were influenced by the importation of European culture, beginning during the Meiji Restoration (1868).

Shimputai style

Shimputai, a new style of shōka, developed in 1977 by 45th generation Headmaster Ikenobō Sen'ei, presents a bright, modern feeling. Two main parts, shu and yo, respond to each other with contrasting yet harmonious qualities. A third part of the arrangement, ashirai, is often added as a finishing touch. Following a period of development of shimputai the new principals were also applied to Rikka and Rikka Shimputai has become popular in the twenty-first century.^[1]

Jiyūka

Jiyūka is the free style. Although any kind of material and vessel may be used, certain guidelines should still be observed to give the arrangement a sense of balance and effect.