Umechuken Kazon (1 results)

A rare manuscript, titled Kusaki yariyo ("A Guide to Arranging Plants"). According to the preface, it holds the knowledge of Ikenobo Senko (either the 1st or 2nd). These masters popularized the rikka (standing-flowers) style of ikebana, which uses various plants and branches in harmony to reflect nature. It contains 13 exemplar arrangements followed by 3 bad examples, and has close-ups of individual leaves. Ikenobo is the oldest school of flower arrangement in Japan, founded in the 15th century at Rokkaku-do in Kyoto. Its 31st and 32nd masters, Ikenobo Senko I (1536?-1621) and II (1575?-1658), were the first two masters of the Edo period. Illustrations of their work have been classified as national treasures. Umechuken Kazon wrote one other manuscript in 1697: Rikka gokuhi kuden sho ("Extracts from the Secret Teachings of the Rikka Style"). Oblong folio (143 x 206 mm), pp. 17. With original colour illustrations throughout; text in Japanese. Later brown patterned paper wrappers, original brown paper front wrapper bound in, renewed black thread fukuro-toji binding. Housed in modern brown cloth folding case. Wrappers scuffed, thread split at spine ends but holding, worm holing to spine (a little internally, not affecting illustrations), part of colophon sometime repaired, some creasing: a very good example.…