Ikebana developed in Japan during the process of experimenting with new techniques for placing flowers in Chinese vases. The Buddhist priests who made these floral offerings at the Buddhist temple lived near a pond (the Japanese word for pond is “ike”), in a small hut (called “bo”). In Kyoto, flowers arranged by Senkei Ikenobo of the Rokkakudo temple were widely praised. Senkei Ikenobo and Senno Ikenobo played active roles in the development of Ikenobo ikebana. The headquarters of Ikenobo remains at the place of its founding, the Rokkakudo Temple in Kyoto.

 

Today, Ikenobo has organized chapters and study groups in countries around the world. The Ikenobo Society of Pittsburgh was founded in 1970 to promote and disseminate the art of Ikenobo in the Pittsburgh/Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Our chapter is recognized by Ikenobo Headquarters located in Kyoto, Japan.

 

Ikenobo has evolved over the last five centuries into an array of styles for different occasions and seasons, from creating floral offerings for Buddhist temples, to designing arrangements for other public spaces and smaller creations for contemporary households. In Pittsburgh, our organization offers monthly Ikenobo workshops by certified instructors, along with other ikebana-related activities.