Korean flower arrangement
Encyclopedia
Korean flower arrangement is being revived as an indoor art, and most often uses simple Joseon dynasty whiteware to highlight various kinds of Korean flowers and tree branches in elegant but unforced natural arrangements. Im Wha-Kong of Ewha Woman's University in Seoul, who also made her own ceramic wares, is the greatest living exponent of this art, and hosts quarterly displays of flower arrangements keeping this tradition alive. There are at least a dozen schools of traditional flower arrangements.
, and suggestions have been made that these were often corner-of-the-room arrangements on small tables using a central vessel with most often a small branch and a small group of local flowers. Sprigs of pear blossoms were particularly well known, and during the winters ever-green sprigs that would have enhanced celadonware, or given a cool elegance to whiteware.
Leaves, blossoms, ferns, and grasses were also used.
Arrangements were primarily done by women in tea-houses, and in the greater houses, Confucian male masters may have done this as well.
Yi dynasty times, that arrangements can be said definitely to have begun and were known, and included in numerous illustrations by artists of that time.
Introduction
Formal flower arrangements were closely allied to the development of the Korean tea ceremonyKorean tea ceremony
The Korean tea ceremony or darye is a traditional form of tea ceremony practiced in Korea. Darye literally refers to "etiquette for tea" or "day tea rite" and has been kept among Korean people for a few thousand years...
, and suggestions have been made that these were often corner-of-the-room arrangements on small tables using a central vessel with most often a small branch and a small group of local flowers. Sprigs of pear blossoms were particularly well known, and during the winters ever-green sprigs that would have enhanced celadonware, or given a cool elegance to whiteware.
Leaves, blossoms, ferns, and grasses were also used.
Arrangements were primarily done by women in tea-houses, and in the greater houses, Confucian male masters may have done this as well.
History
There is no exact date for the origination of this floral art, and it was not documented before the 14th century as a distinct art. Votive altar arrangements of flowers for Buddhist temples were and are always profuse, they were precursors. But it was under Confucian hands, in JoseonJoseon Dynasty
Joseon , was a Korean state founded by Taejo Yi Seong-gye that lasted for approximately five centuries. It was founded in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Goryeo at what is today the city of Kaesong. Early on, Korea was retitled and the capital was relocated to modern-day Seoul...
Yi dynasty times, that arrangements can be said definitely to have begun and were known, and included in numerous illustrations by artists of that time.
Major schools of Korean flower arranging
The initial list would include:- Jeju Island school
- Seoul schools
- Pusan (Busan) schools
- Mountain schools
- Palace school
- Jeonju Tea ceremony school - based in Jeonju with a frequent use of pine, and flowering blossoms of pear;
- Wha-Kong Hoe school - based in Seoul, and representing the work of Madame Wha-Kong and her natural approach to the art, with ceramics by her own hand in traditional Confucian patterns;
- Pyong-yang schools - Traditional flower arrangements are an important part of northern Korean culture, and innovations have been done on large scale decorative flower arrangements for festivals, but there has been little documentation of this art.
See also
- IkebanaIkebanais the Japanese art of flower arrangement, also known as .-Etymology:"Ikebana" is from the Japanese and . Possible translations include "giving life to flowers" and "arranging flowers".- Approach :...
- Flower arrangement
- List of Korea-related topics
- Korean culture
- Korean artKorean artKorean art is art originating or practiced in Korea or by Korean artists, from ancient times to today. Korea is noted for its artistic traditions in pottery, music, calligraphy, and other genres, often marked by the use of bold color, natural forms, and surface decoration.-Introduction:The earliest...