The Tokonoma
The tokonoma is the alcove which, in traditional Japanese homes, is the place where the family's treasured objects are displayed. It became a popular and fashionable feature in premodern Japanese domestic architecture in the late fifteenth century.
In the above photograph, the Tokonoma is to the left. Note the hanging scroll on the back wall and the pillar at the corner. The corner pillar of a tokonoma is chosen for its unique character. Source for this image: Bluefield Joiners.
The size of the tokonoma has varied in size, averaging about 6' high and 6' wide and approximately 3' deep. The floor of the alcove is raised several inches to provide a platform and there might also be a shelf affixed to the back wall.
Remember that the floral arrangement placed in the tokonoma would be viewed by a person seated on the floor. For this reason, classical ikebana is meant to be viewed from the front.
Traditional decoration of the tokonoma consists of a hanging scroll, a treasured art object and a floral arrangement. As the tokonoma is a formal architectural feature, ikebana suitable for display would be the more formal styles. (Although ikebana is quite formal, some schools of ikebana teach both formal and informal styles of arrangement. What constitutes formality might not be readily apparent to the uneducated observer. The arrangements associated with tea ceremony might appear to be very casual but tea flowers (chabana) are considered to be formal.)
Traditional decoration of the tokonoma consists of a hanging scroll, a treasured art object and a floral arrangement. As the tokonoma is a formal architectural feature, ikebana suitable for display would be the more formal styles. (Although ikebana is quite formal, some schools of ikebana teach both formal and informal styles of arrangement. What constitutes formality might not be readily apparent to the uneducated observer. The arrangements associated with tea ceremony might appear to be very casual but tea flowers (chabana) are considered to be formal.)
A Point to Ponder: The tokonoma was once a status symbol. Up until the end of the Edo Period (1615 -1868) it was a feature that could only be built by samurai and certain members of the merchant class. (Yagi, p 59) The practice of ikebana was mainly confined to priests and aristocrats until the 18th century, when the affluent merchant class became enthusiasts and women began to take it up. Still, no effort seems to have been made to make ikebana instruction available to ordinary people until the 20th century.
Why do you think that an effort began in the 20th century to make ikebana more popular and ikebana instruction more readily available?
posted by cafegirl | 9:32 PM
3 Comments:
Really great presentation so far. I would guess that video, television, photographs, and later the internet helped spread the practice. Since everyone could now see Tokonoma from all over the country and elsewhere, certainly the beauty of the presentations made others want to learn how to do it.
You make a good point. Rather like American homes began to try to capture the style and taste of grand homes that they began to see in magazines and on film, there was probably a similar thing in Japan. Although the Japanese incorporate nature and the change of seasons into many aspects of daily living, learning to do it with extra style would probably been very attractive.
But training in ikebana had always been a very lengthly process and not something the average person could do. Modern schools developed methods for instruction that made learning much more accessible.
Anybody else have some ideas?
Jessica~ I am very intrigued by the realization that modernity in Japan coincided with the reinstatement of Shinto as the state religion. That suggests to me that, while the West tends to regard modern and natural and two opposing things, that the Japanese come at modernity with an understanding of organic relationships in inorganic things like systems, programs and institutions.
Your comments have me considering what kind of impact there was on the idea of status once Japanese social boundaries began to dissolve.
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