Title: Misho-ryu Ikebana no Maki (The Misho-ryu School of Flower Arrangement), 1826 (Late Edo Period). Illustrated Manuscript on Flower Arrangement, With Detailed Instructions and Visual Aids. Accompanied With Four Possible Kishōmon Letters
Condition: Very Good
An early 19th century manuscript on Ikebana, or Japanese art of floral arrangement, and in this case, one for the Misho-ryu School, one of Japan’s most popular schools of today.
Considered to be one of the three classical Japanese arts of refinement, ikebana is a practice heavily intertwined and imbued with Buddhist philosophy, and as such, there are a number of rules, with ikebana being viewed as a disciplined art form in which nature and humanity are brought together. There is emphasis put on shape, line, and form, and the concept of hanakotoba (the Japanese form of the language of flowers) plays a role as well, factoring in the color of flowers, presence of thorns, different flower combinations, and more. Some colors are deemed unlucky, and certain numbers as well. Minimalism is also often featured in ikebana, with many arrangements remaining elegant in only a minimal number of blooms.
Of the Misho-ryu school, their traditional style is called kakubana, the main principle being to create an arrangement in the shape of a right-angled isosceles triangle. The style bears a spiritual focus, and revolves around the Heavens, Earth, and Human, being the three primary elements of the human universe.
There are numerous illustrations throughout, providing visual instruction on how to correctly make proper flower arrangements, and several diagrams delineating four quadrants of directions, and their corresponding elements.
At the end of the main text is a dated colophon, for Bunsei 8, or 1826. This places the production of the manuscript not too long after the initial establishment of the school itself.
Enclosed alongside the main manuscripts, are several documents, which are possibly Kishōmon, or Divine Oath Papers. Such a set of documents are a bit unprecedented for Ikebana practitioners and warrant further study to properly identify them.
One manuscript in quarto (25.3 x 18.6 cm), 70 leaves, and four additional documents
This manuscript is in very good shape, with minor rubbing and wear to the covers.