Shoka: Basics

Shoka, like basic form of ikebana arrangements, is composed of Shin, Soe and Tai. It is mostly defined by (but not confined to) its natural expression of upright growth of plants. Not that both words here are important. Upright defined the overall form of Shoka, it is rather straight forward. Growth is a little harder to grasp. It is important to understand the concept of growth of the plant material from its root to its bud, the full body of the plant and not just the bloom. Growth also implies the interaction of natural elements with the plant, like sunlight and wind. In other words, growth is like a movement, a dance of the stem to an imaginary source of light or breeze. Ikebana is stationed but the lines of the stem in Shoka should evoke a sense of growth, and in upright motion.

The other main character of Shoka is its graceful simplicity, brevity and elegance. Brevity, again, is a key concept to understand. Shoka is about the beauty of the combinations of a few stems. It is a form that strives to express an glimpse into the nature and the delicacy of botanic materials. There is always an easiness that should be expressed in Shoka and there should always be a feeling of transiency. It is an arrangement that appears to be found on the side of the road but when you stop to look at it, it displays great beauty. Unlike Rikka, which consist of complex and varied stems, Shoka can be composed with one, two or three different finds of floral materials. A Shoka with more than three materials is possible but it would make it very difficult to express the original character of the Shoka style.

• Shoka with 1 materials is called Isshuike*
• Shoka with 2 materials is called Nishuike
• Shoka with 3 materials is called Sanshuike

*We will have a separate post on this later. 

Another important rule for Shoka is that the number of stems should be odd, in 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11. Above diagram shows how additional stems can be added to a simple 3 stem composition. One stem is placed in the center and the additional stems are inserted behind or in front of the central stem, expanding the arrangement outwards from the top view. This is commonly see with materials like peonies, camellia, Japanese anemone, hydrangeas or stems that have both buds and leaves on the same stem. 

There are times where an arrangement has two centers, such as when arranging daylily, agapanthus or amaryllis with the stems with buds as the center and the leaves as stems surrounding them. This usually applied to materials which flower stems are separable from their leaves. 

Since Shoka is an arrangement that emphasis simplicity, that also means that selection of stems is extremely important. Making a choice for the stem with the more appropriate expression in combination of others is often more difficult in practice than in words. The decision of the length of each stem is also crucial. Since the arrangement usually appears more "bare," each stem and its line is exposed. Thus, it is an arrangement that is just simple by its impression. 

There are two big subcategories under Shoka: Shoka Shofutai I and Shoka Shimputai. Shofutai is the traditional format and Shimputai is the modern format. A big difference in the two is that when arranging 2 or more materials in Shoka Shofutai, the stems of the same materials must be inserted next to each other on the kenzan, like below:

 For Shimputai, stems still have to stay in the same line when inserted into the kenzan but the same kind does not need to stay together. This opens up more dynamic arrangements with a more playful character. Both styles are equally popularly practiced and there are no difference in materials used. They are like two daughter forms under mother Shoka.

One of the last things to beware of when you plan to try a Shoka is that soft materials are not suitable for Shoka. As Shoka is meant to display the upward movements of plants, materials with long steams work best in this form. We have posted plenty of examples on our instagram page and stories, so please take a look at them! We will talk more about the specifics of Shoka Shofutai next up!