Ikebana arranged as to express peace. All gifts of flowers must be in bud, so that the person to whom they are sent may have the pleasure of seeing them openquite a contrast to the present Western idea of everything being forced to perfection before leaving the florist. The spiritual aspect of "kadō" is considered very important to its practitioners. Some practitioners feel silence is needed while making "ikebana" while others feel this is not necessary. It is a time to appreciate things in nature that people often overlook because of their busy lives. It is believed that one becomes more
Ikebana kuge (供華). Styles of "ikebana" changed in the late 15thcentury and transformed into an art form with fixed instructions. Books were written about it, ""Sedensho"" being the oldest one, covering the years 1443 to 1536. "Ikebana" became a major part of traditional festivals, and exhibitions were occasionally held. The first styles were characterized by a tall, upright central stem accompanied by two shorter stems. During the Momoyama period, 1560–1600, splendid castles were constructed. Noblemen and royal retainers made large decorative "rikka" floral arrangements that were considered appropriate decoration for castles. When the tea ceremony emerged, another style was introduced for