shows photos of Japan between the 1860s and 1930s. In 1854, Japan opened its doors to the outside world for the first time in more than 200 years. It set in motion a truly astounding transformation. As fate would have it, photography had just been invented. As the old country vanished and a new one was born, daring photographers took photos. Discover what life was like with their rare and precious photographs of old Japan.

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Unbeaten Tracks in Japan • Isabella L. Bird

In 1878, just 19 years after Japan opened it first ports to the world, and a mere ten years after the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate, an adventurous 47-year old woman from the UK set out to explore the interior of Japan. The country was virtually unknown to Westerners, and a woman traveling only with a guide seemed outrageous. Everybody advised her not to, but she went anyway and wrote this unique and vivid journal of what she saw and experienced.

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Tags: Unknown • Meiji • Inside • Customs • Women
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Two women in kimono are practicing Ikebana (traditional Japanese flower arrangement). The woman on the left is making an arrangement in a square vase, while the other woman is using a round one. Flowers yet to be arranged are kept on a tray, while a pot with water is kept near the knees of the woman on the right.

Especially during the Meiji (1868-1912) and Taisho (1912-1926) periods, many urban young women practiced Ikebana to make themselves more desirable brides-to-be, a custom that could still be observed until quite recently. But this wonderful art of flower arrangement reaches back much further in history.

It has been practiced for more than 600 years and originated in the Buddhist ritual of offering flowers to Buddha. Buddhism was introduced into Japan during the 6th century. While in Buddhism’s birthplace, India, petals were strewn or flowers were placed casually, Japanese Buddhist priests developed ways to present their altar offerings in containers.

The oldest school of Ikebana is Ikenobo (池坊), which traces its origins to a buddhist priest of the Rokkakudo Temple (六角堂) in Kyoto. He was especially skilled in arranging flowers for altars and taught many other priests.

At first, Ikebana was only practiced by priests and members of the nobility, but by the late 15th century it had evolved enough to be appreciated by ordinary people.

Over the years many schools were born, all with their own fixed styles. This naturally gave birth to a large number of texts. The oldest extant manuscript is the Kao Irai no Kadensho (花王以来の花伝書) and dates from 1486.¹

Kao Irai no Kadensho (花王以来の花伝書)

¹ 池坊。初期のいけばな。Retrieved on 2008/06/26.

² Ikebana International (I.I.) is a non-profit cultural organization dedicated to the promotion and appreciation of ikebana.

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Photographer: Unknown
Publisher: Unknown
Medium: Albumen Print
Image Number: 70613-0003
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Thumbnail URL: http://oldphotosjapan.com/images/147t.jpg

Posted by Kjeld Duits • 2008-06-27

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