Korean flower arrangement
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Korean flower arrangement is being revived as an indoor art, and most often uses simple Joseon dynasty whiteware to highlight Korean flowers and tree branches in elegant and unforced natural arrangements. Im Wha-Kong of Ewha Woman's University in Seoul, who also makes 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.


Introduction

Formal flower arrangements were closely allied to the development of the
Korean tea ceremony The Korean Tea Ceremony or ''darye'' (茶禮) is a traditional form of tea ceremony practiced in Korea. Darye literally refers to ''"etiquette for tea"'' or ''"tea rite"'' and has been kept among Korean people for over a thousand years. The chie ...
, 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
celadon ware ''Celadon'' () is a term for pottery denoting both wares ceramic glaze, glazed in the jade green Shades of green#Celadon, celadon color, also known as greenware or "green ware" (the term specialists now tend to use), and a type of transparent gl ...
, 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

This
floral art Floral design or flower arrangement is the art of using plant materials and flowers to create an eye-catching and balanced composition or display. Evidence of refined floristry is found as far back as the culture of ancient Egypt. Professionally ...
was not documented before the 14th century as a distinct art. Votive altar arrangements of flowers for Buddhist temples were precursors. But it was under Confucian hands, in
Joseon Joseon (; ; Middle Korean: 됴ᇢ〯션〮 Dyǒw syéon or 됴ᇢ〯션〯 Dyǒw syěon), officially the Great Joseon (; ), was the last dynastic kingdom of Korea, lasting just over 500 years. It was founded by Yi Seong-gye in July 1392 and re ...
Yi dynasty times, that arrangements can be said definitely to have begun and were known, and included in illustrations by artists of that time.


Major schools of Korean flower arranging

* Catherine Muller CASA school * Jane Packer Seoul * Atelier FleurHeesoo (Gangnam, Seoul)- flower arrangement school of traditional french style (www.fleurheesoo.com) * 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.


See also

*
Ikebana is the Japanese art of flower arrangement. It is also known as . The tradition dates back to Heian period, when floral offerings were made at altars. Later, flower arrangements were instead used to adorn the (alcove) of a traditional Japan ...
*
Flower arrangement Floral design or flower arrangement is the art of using plant materials and flowers to create an eye-catching and balanced composition or display. Evidence of refined floristry is found as far back as the culture of ancient Egypt. Professionally ...
*
History of flower arrangement The history of flower arrangement dates back to ancient Egyptian times. Ancient Egypt The earliest known flower arranging dates back to ancient Egypt. Egyptians were decorating with flowers as early as 2,500 BCE. They regularly placed cut fl ...
*
Korean culture The traditional culture of Korea is the shared cultural and historical heritage of Korea and southern Manchuria before the division of Korea in 1945. Manchuria refers to the ancient geographical and historical region in Northeast Asia, includ ...
*
Korean art Korean arts include traditions in calligraphy, music, painting and pottery, often marked by the use of natural forms, surface decoration and bold colors or sounds. The earliest examples of Korean art consist of Stone Age works dating from 3000 ...
*
Floristry Floristry is the production, commerce, and trade in flowers. It encompasses flower care and handling, floral design and arrangement, merchandising, production, display and flower delivery. Wholesale florists sell bulk flowers and related sup ...


References

*"Oriental Flower Arrangement" in three volumes and "Oriental Flower Arrangement 100" in four volumes by Im Wha-Kong, Seoul, 1995 {{Reflist


External links


On the semi-annual exhibitions in Seoul of the Wha-Kong Hoe Flower Arrangement Society
Flower Arrangement Floral design or flower arrangement is the art of using plant materials and flowers to create an eye-catching and balanced composition or display. Evidence of refined floristry is found as far back as the culture of ancient Egypt. Professionally ...
Korean Confucianism Floristry