Mishōryū Sasaoka Ikebana Exhibition｜未生流笹岡 京都支部展

Each autumn the Mishōryū Sasaoka ikebana school holds its annual Kyoto Shibuten (“Kyoto Branch Exhibition”) at Shōren-in, a gorgeous 13^th century temple in the Higashiyama area of east Kyoto. This exhibition artfully combines ikebana flower arrangements with Shōren-in’s scenic garden views and lavishly decorated hall interiors to create an elegant ikebana experience.

Though it is a relatively new school of ikebana founded in the early 20^th century, Mishōryū Sasaoka ikebana possess rather traditional characteristics. The school was founded during a period when more and more new species of Western flowers were being introduced to Japan, and a style called moribana (“piled-up flowers”) was in vogue. Moribana, as opposed to classic styles of ikebana that were more vertical and vase-based, focuses on arranging clusters of flowers in shallow basins to recreate natural water landscapes. At that time, Chikuho Sasaoka, a skilled disciple of the Mishōryū school, felt that moribana could be advanced through traditional ikebana techniques while also incorporating new flowers that more conservative schools were not yet recognizing. This led to the founding of the Mishōryū Sasaoka school in 1919, which is currently lead by Ryuho Sasaoka, Chikuho’s great-grandson.

The Mishōryū Sasaoka Kyoto Branch Exhibition showcases flower arrangements done by all levels of school members from the iemoto (head of the school) and veteran disciples to newer students and children. Naturally, the iemoto’s ikebana take center stage, displayed against gorgeous gold-foil shōhekiga wall paintings in the temple’s Jōdan no Ma (Lord’s Audience Chamber). Special attention is also paid to those who were certified that year as advanced enough in their studies to teach others. They submit ikebana pieces done in the school’s most traditional isosceles triangle kata (fundamental shapes) to prove their mastery of the basics while also revealing their own personalities. Senior practitioners are honored with calligraphy scrolls displaying their ages above their flower arrangements, and young pupils also have a chance to show off their developing skills with little arrangements with a child-like charm.

All in all, visitors can usually expect to see over a hundred ikebana arrangements artfully displayed throughout Shoren-in temple.