Antique vase with stand for ikebana. Bronze, patina. Japan, 20th century.

Ikebana is an ancient art of composing compositions from plants, flowers, stones. This is the art of giving "a second life to flowers", which is what the word "ikebana" ("ekibana") means in translation. Even before the introduction of Buddhism as a religion, the Japanese professed Shintoism. (Shintoism is the way of the gods, where the supreme goddess was the great sacred Amaterasu, "shining in the sky" - the goddess of the sun, the great mother of the imperial dynasty. It is often said that the flag of Japan is a symbol of Shinto. Each deity in Shintoism is independent and has its place in the hierarchy. This belief deifies the forces of nature, animals. The sky is the abode of Kami (gods). Gods inspire fear. Among them are often sacred animals - a tiger, a snake, a wolf; mountains, the emperor himself. The number of gods is about eight hundred million, and Japan is often called "Shinkoku" - the country of deities.)