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 Shussho, or the essential inner character of each plant variety, is considered most important when arranging shoka style. This inner character of the plant governs its basic growth. As the plant puts out leaves and flowers, natural environmental factors such as light and weather uniquely affect the growth of individual plants. Shoka style reflects both the inner character of the plant variety and the bright energy of life filling each individual plant as it grows.
Shoka today is divided into two main styles, contemporary shoka shimputai, and traditional shoka shofutai. |
Shoka Shimputai
Characterisitics of shoka shimputai
Keeping in mind the traditional Ikenobo appreciation for the beauty of life as seen in plants, shoka shimputai is a contemporary shoka style that uses plants in many possible ways. Plant colors, shapes, qualities, the feeling of growth, and many other characteristics are emphasized in a contemporary arangement that gives impressions of brightness, life, sharpness, and distinctiveness.
Shoka Shofutai
Characteristics of shoka shofutai
Traditional shoka shofutai is composed of three main parts called shin, soe, and tai, containing within them ancient principles of heaven, man, and earth, and in (yin) and yo (yang). The characteristic beauty of shoka comes from the clean, straight line of stems at the base of the arrangement, called mizugiwa. Stems above the mizugiwa move upward in harmony with the tall, centrally-placed shin.
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