Material: Magnolia soulangeana.
Container: Regadora, white ceramic watering can, Francisco Lora Buzon, Menorca.
The first step to create a flower arrangement for the Japanese tea ceremony is to choose the flowers. Chabana, or tea flowers, have to be seasonal flowers, not too gaudy or showy, not too scented or numerous. Chabana evokes spontaneous nature in the quiet and peaceful atmosphere of the chashitu, the room where the cha, the frothy tea made of powdered green leaves, is prepared and drunk. Humble fresh flowers are arranged with simplicity and elegance, favouring the natural inclination of the branch, choosing promising buds instead of open flowers, using a few varieties and always in odd number, combining their colour, shape and size with the vase, preferably without decorations.
Not all flowers are suitable for Chabana. In the book The Art of Chabana strengths and weaknesses of flowers, divided according to seasons and flowering months, are analyzed. For the month of April, for example, Prunus ascendens is considered too common, the petals of Prunus Sargentii, 'soft pink and quite large', are suggested just for a 'casual' meeting, Spirea cantoniensis in full bloom is 'too loud' and branches of apple blossoms are preferred in bud, with 'drooping down' and 'sparse' flowers.
For April, I have chosen a branch of magnolia with three opening flowers and three sprigs. The cream colour of the flowers harmonises with the room and the simple bamboo table where I put the Chabana, while their blush reminds me of the warmer spring sun. I have not used a traditional board under the vase, a Menorcan watering can classified as gyo, glazed pottery. The branch is short, its development is in width more than height, but I like the proportions of the composition and I enjoyed its freshness and brightness sipping my cha.
Not all flowers are suitable for Chabana. In the book The Art of Chabana strengths and weaknesses of flowers, divided according to seasons and flowering months, are analyzed. For the month of April, for example, Prunus ascendens is considered too common, the petals of Prunus Sargentii, 'soft pink and quite large', are suggested just for a 'casual' meeting, Spirea cantoniensis in full bloom is 'too loud' and branches of apple blossoms are preferred in bud, with 'drooping down' and 'sparse' flowers.
For April, I have chosen a branch of magnolia with three opening flowers and three sprigs. The cream colour of the flowers harmonises with the room and the simple bamboo table where I put the Chabana, while their blush reminds me of the warmer spring sun. I have not used a traditional board under the vase, a Menorcan watering can classified as gyo, glazed pottery. The branch is short, its development is in width more than height, but I like the proportions of the composition and I enjoyed its freshness and brightness sipping my cha.
Photos:
TravelinaGarden
Further reading:
Henry Mittwer, The Art of Chabana: Flowers for the Tea Ceremony, Charles E. Tuttle Company Inc., Tokyo, 1974.
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