How did flower arranging come about? When and where did it originate?

The art of flower arranging originated from the nature of human beings who love beauty. Paleolithic people have learned to use animal bones to decorate themselves, after mankind entered the agricultural era, people will be good-looking flowers folded down, inserted in the hair or wear on the body, but also a variety of flower patterns drawn on pottery, brocade, and then inserted into the container, to beautify the environment, with flower wreaths to friends and relatives or to pay homage to the gods. These primitive forms of flower application along with the development of human culture and art gradually formed the art of flower arrangement.

About the origin of the art of flower arrangement, it is now unanimously recognized that the East and the West have a dichotomy, i.e., the Eastern flower arrangement originated from India or China; the Western flower arrangement originated from ancient Egypt.

According to archaeological discoveries, there are water lily vase flower designs painted on the walls of the tomb of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Beni Hassan in 2500 BC, as well as five flower-arranging containers between 2400 and 1800 BC. These earliest discoveries of human flower-arranging works and containers suggest that ancient Egypt was the birthplace of the Western art of flower arranging.

About the birthplace of the Eastern art of flower arrangement, there are two kinds of statements: one is that it originated in India. As we all know, India is the birthplace of Buddhism, and flower offering in front of the Buddha is one of the main Buddhist rituals.

The second is originated in China. According to "Poetry", "Chu Shi" records, at the beginning of the Zhou Dynasty to the early Spring and Autumn and Warring States period (11th century BC to the 3rd century BC), flowers (cut flowers) have been widely used in life, such as ceremonial or sacrificial bouquets, decorative ceremonial wear head flowers, corsage flowers, as well as flowers used in the flower house, flower boats, floats, flowers, florals, and so on. All these appeared in the account of the original flower arrangement 3000 years ago, much earlier than the Eastern countries, and before the introduction of Buddhism into China, so that China is said to be the country of origin of the art of Eastern-style flower arrangement.

Expanded Information

Types of Flower Arrangements

1, according to the purpose can be roughly divided into ceremonial flower arrangements and artistic flower arrangements.

Ceremonial flower arrangement is used for social etiquette, celebrations, weddings and funerals and other occasions with a specific purpose of flower arrangement. It can convey friendship, affection, love, can express welcome, respect, celebrate, condolences, mourning, etc., the situation is often more fixed and simple.

Artistic flower arrangement refers to the use of social etiquette is not a special requirement with the function, mainly for artistic appreciation and beautify the environment of a class of flower arrangement.

2, according to the artistic style can be divided into eastern style flower arrangement, western style flower arrangement and modern free style flower arrangement Chinese style flower arrangement.

(1) Eastern style flower arrangement is divided into Chinese flower arrangement and Japanese flower arrangement, Chinese flower art from the pre-Qin, Han, Wei, Six Dynasties, Sui and Tang Dynasties, Song and Yuan, Ming Dynasty, Qing Dynasty until the contemporary style. Characteristics: According to the natural ecology of flowers, plants and trees, and mastering the changes of the seasons. The main idea of Japanese flower arrangement is: dedication, as if nature selflessly offers the most beautiful aspects of flowers and trees to human beings.

(2) Western-style flower arrangement, the form of flower arrangement has a pattern and a bureau, to the arrangement of flowers and lines for the principle of non-formal flower arrangement that is (free flower arrangement) respect for nature, do not talk about the form, with the modern design, emphasizing the color, the traditional style is suitable for special social occasions, the free style is suitable for the daily home furnishings.

3, according to the different materials used in flower arrangements are divided into fresh flower arrangements, dried flower arrangements, artificial flower arrangements and mixed flower arrangements.

(1) flower arrangement: all or mainly with fresh flowers for insertion. Its main feature is the beauty of the most natural flowers, colorful, fragrant flowers, full of real vitality, a strong artistic appeal, a wide range of applications. Its disadvantage is that the water does not last, the cost is higher, should not be placed in the dark light.

(2) dried flower arrangement: all or mainly with natural dried flowers or processed dry plant material for insertion. It does not lose the beauty of the natural form of the original plant, but also can be randomly colored, combined, inserted after the system can be placed for a long time, easy to manage, not subject to the limitations of the light, especially suitable for dark light placement. In Europe and the United States, some countries and regions are very popular dry flower works. The shortcomings are afraid of strong light for a long time in the sun, also intolerant of humid environment.

(3) artificial flower arrangements: the flowers used are artificial imitation of a variety of plant materials, including silk flowers, polyester flowers, etc., there is simulation, there are also random design and coloring, a wide variety. Artificial flowers are colorful, rich changes, easy to shape, easy to clean, can be placed for a long time. Its disadvantage is the lack of natural beauty, the overall effect appears too hard.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Flower Arrangement