Ikebana (生け花) is the Japanese art of flower arranging, literally 'bringing flowers to life'. Beginning as Buddhist floral offerings, over time flower arrangement grew into an artistic pursuit. Nowadays there are over 1000 schools of Ikebana all over the world.

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Ikenobō (池坊) is the oldest and largest school of ikebana, founded right here in Kyōto in the 15thC by the Buddhist monk Sennō Kuden (池坊専応口伝).

Sennō lived at Rokkaku-dō (六角堂) and named his school after the monks' quarters that stood beside the temple pond.

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"Not only beautiful flowers but also buds and withered flowers have life, and each has its own beauty. By arranging flowers with reverence, one refines oneself.”
-Sennō Kuden (池坊専応口伝).

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So what is the difference between chabana (茶花), flowers for the tearoom, and ikebana (生け花)?

The photos below show chabana.

Unlike the more stylised ikebana, as a general rule flowers for the tearoom appear more naturalistic, bringing the world outside into the alcove.

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