桜

桜はバラ科サクラ属に属する落葉広葉樹です。日本を代表する花で、春になると花見に出かける方も多いのではないでしょうか。

いけばなの世界でも桜は愛されていて、特別に大切にされています。たくさんの種類がありますが、日本各地に植えられている「ソメイヨシノ」はいけばなでは使いません。啓翁桜、彼岸桜などが一般によく流通しており普段の稽古でもよく使われます。ほかにも八重系の桜や枝垂れ桜、山桜など様々な桜がいけられます。

立花、生花という伝統的ないけ方のどちらも伝花とされ、特別な扱いが伝えられています。立花では『立華十九ヶ條』の中に「桜一色の事」、生花では『五ヶ條』の中に「桜」という伝があります。伝花としての桜は主に山桜を用います。一般の花屋で手に入る啓翁桜や彼岸桜をいける場合は伝花とは扱い方が異なり、ごく普通にいけます。

桜は一輪一輪の花や一本ずつの枝というよりは、花がわっと固まっている姿を愛でます。いけばなでも他の花木とは違って、賑やかに豪華に花が爛漫と咲き誇っている様子をいけることが多いようです。

古くから日本人に愛されてきて、文学、絵画などでも頻繁に取り上げられています。代表的な和歌をいくつか。

願はくは花の下にて春死なむその如月の望月のころ

『続古今和歌集』/ 西行法師

敷島の大和心を人問はば 朝日に匂ふ山桜花

『本居宣長六十一歳自畫自贊像』/ 本居宣長

見渡せば柳さくらをこきまぜて都ぞ春の錦なりける　

『古今和歌集』/ 素性法師

小説では水上勉さんの『櫻守』が印象的です。ひたすらに桜を愛し守り育てることに一生を捧げた庭師の物語です。絵画では横山大観氏の『夜桜』でしょうか。桜の妖艶な雰囲気がよく出ていると思います。

Cherry blossoms are deciduous broadleaf trees that belong to the rose family. They are a symbol of Japan, and many people go out to enjoy “hanami” (flower viewing) in spring.

Cherry blossoms are also loved in ikebana and are treated as something special. There are many kinds of cherry blossoms, but “Somei Yoshino,” which is commonly planted all over Japan, is not used in ikebana. Instead, varieties like Keio-zakura and Higan-zakura are widely available and often used in regular practice. Other types, such as double-flowered cherry blossoms, weeping cherry trees, and wild mountain cherry blossoms, are also used.

In traditional ikebana styles like Rikka and Shoka, cherry blossoms are considered special flowers called “denka” (traditional ikebana). In Rikka, there is a teaching called “Sakura Isshiki no Koto,” and in Shoka, there is also a rule simply called “Sakura.” For these traditional forms, mountain cherry blossoms are mainly used. When using common types like Keio-zakura or Higan-zakura from flower shops, they are not treated as “denka” and are arranged in a more ordinary way.

Cherry blossoms are appreciated not as single flowers or individual branches, but as a whole mass of blooming flowers. In ikebana, unlike other branches or flowers, they are often arranged to show a lively and full scene, as if the blossoms are in full bloom.

Cherry blossoms have been loved by Japanese people for a long time and often appear in literature and art. Here are some famous Japanese poems:

“Negawakuha hana no moto nite haru shinan sono kisaragi no mochizuki no koro”
— Saigyo

“Shikishima no Yamato-gokoro o hito towaba asahi ni niou yamazakura-bana”
— Motoori Norinaga

“Miwataseba yanagi sakura o koki mazete miyako zo haru no nishiki narikeru”
— Sosei

In novels, “Sakuramori” by Mizukami Tsutomu is very memorable. It tells the story of a gardener who devoted his whole life to loving, protecting, and growing cherry trees.

In painting, “Yozakura” by Yokoyama Taikan is a famous work. It beautifully shows the mysterious and enchanting atmosphere of cherry blossoms.

桜を使ったいけばな