Page:Japanese flower arrangement.djvu/36

 generals have been masters of this art, finding that it calmed their minds and made clear their decisions for the field of action. That men like Hideyoshi and Yoshimasa, two of Japan's most famous generals, found benefit in the practise of Ike-bana shows that it is valuable training, even for the masculine mind. Rikkwa reached its greatest popularity during the Genroku Age.

There were many works on Ike-bana published in the centuries from Kenei (1206-) to Genroku (1668-1704). The first was a book called Sendensho, published in the early part of Kenei, and there were many others, but none of much value to the student of flower arrangement. They gave few rules and their chief object seemed to be to withhold all information. They were all founded on Soami's idea of the three elements. Although these books were valueless as far as instruction is concerned, they were all fully illustrated, and by these pictures one can see the gradual progress of [30]