Relationship Between Technique for Curving or Shaping Stems in Ikebana and the Characteristics of Floral Materials

When arranging the shoka style of Ikenobo ikebana, the hands are used to curve or shape stems in composing an ideal form based on the essential character of plants. Tools such as wire or tape are not used. A great variety of floral material is used in arranging, however, making it difficult to select an appropriate bending or shaping technique suited to the character of each material. 14 kinds of floral material often used in ikebana lessons were tested in a bending experiment to determine the mechanical characteristics of each material. Further, questionnaires were given to experienced ikebana students to examine correlation between subjective evaluation of the ease of curving or shaping stems, and mechanical characteristics of the floral materials. As a result of the bending experiment, we found that rapid decrease of load caused hard or brittle breaking of stems, and that floral materials with high coefficients of elasticity were judged by students as being difficult to shape or curve. On the other hand, materials showing gradual decrease of load showed softer or more pliable breakage, and materials with low coefficients of elasticity were judged by students as being more easily shaped or curved.