Choosing the right kenzan is the first step in Ikebana!
We will give you some tips on selecting kenzan!
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Kenzan plays an important role in supporting the arrangement. By using a suitable kenzan that matches the size, shape, and floral materials, you can create better works.
However, with various shapes of vases and different types of kenzan, many people may find it difficult to choose the right one.
Here, we will introduce tips for selecting kenzan to solve such problems.
Step 1: Choose a type kenzan
Kenzan can be broadly divided into three types: for branches (木物), for grass materials (草物), and for both branches and grass (草木兼用).
The general kenzan is for branches. The kenzan for grass materials has needles that are more densely packed compared to the one for branches. The number of needles varies depending on the size and shape, but typically, the general type uses about 370 needles, while the one for grass materials uses about 610 needles.
The kenzan made for both branches and grass has needles in the center made of a strong material, making them less likely to bend even when inserting thick branches. Additionally, the surrounding needles are finer, suitable for grass.
Step 2: Choose the shape of kenzan
Generally speaking, the shape of the kenzan is round, but there are various other shapes such as "square," "boat-shaped," and "oval."
When using kenzan, round shapes are mainly used for Rikka and Shoka. However, for Free Style arrangements, there are various shapes of vases, so please choose a kenzan that matches the vase and is easy to arrange.
Step 3: Choose the bottom shape
There are two types one is flat, and the other is peg-top shape for the bottom shape of kenzan.
For basin or vase with kenzan holding shelf, choose a kenzan of flat bottom.
A peg-top shape is for a tall and slender vase.
You can attach kenzan stabilizing post to some of kenzan, but please note some kenzan of smaller size cannot attach the post. When you use the kenzan stabilizing post, you need to put pebble inside the vase.
Step 4: Choosing the size of kenzan
There are numbers on the name of kenzan like Kenzan #9. The number refers to the diameter of the bottom of kenzan in centimeters. So, you can see the size referring to the number of each kenzan.
For ikebana, kenzan must be inside water and invisible. If the size is too big to the vase, it will ruin the work.
We call the edge of vase and the flower arranged as “mizugiwa (water’s edge)” in Ikebana. It is required to show mimzugiwa tight and clean. Kenzan plays an important role in creating clean mizugiwa. You need to decide the size of kenzan with considering how much flowers you would use, how wide the flowers would be placed and so on.
Step 5: Check the height of Kenzan
It is said that the kenzan should be positioned 1.5cm below the mouth of the vase. (Source: "Ikenobo Rikka no Manabikata - Part 1" p.31, "Hajimete no Ikenobo Ikebana Nyumon" p.114) Currently, at the Ikenobo Central Institute of Ikebana, it is taught to position the kenzan 2 cm below the mouth of the vase.
Step 6: Choose the color
Kenzan is generally brass-colored, but there are also black kenzan that have been baked to achieve their color.
A brass-colored kenzan can stand out a bit when placed among black stones. There are no strict rules about color, but if you don't want the kenzan to stand out, choose a black one.
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Useful tools to maintain Kenzan
Kenzan Needle Rake
You can easily scrape out tiny dust get stuck inside the needles of kenzan.
Kenzan Pad
It can be a slip stopper of kenzan but also can protect the surface of flower vase to get scratch from kenzan.
Kenzan Needle Straightener
When you put thick branches to Kenzan, the needle might be tilted. In that case you can use this item to make the needle straight.
Vase Stabilizing Sinker
This item is to make kenzan stabilized when you are not using pebbles, By hooking them onto the needles of the kenzan, they also help to secure the kenzan itself. It's a clever product.
Kenzan Raising Rubber Mat
This item is to adjust the height of Kenzan. This is a set of three rubber mat of slightly different thickness, and you can use various combinations.
These items are can be used instead of using kenzan to support flowers.
Komiwara
Mainly for Classic Rikka or Tatehana
Matagi
Mainly for Shoka. Depending on the shape of vase you can use matagi with Douwa or Ishiana.
Oasis Floral Foam
For Free Style, Moribana or any flower arrangement. There are many choices of colors.
Tomekko Petit Kenzan
For a vase of small opening. You can use it for thin leaves.
Nekko Net
You can make this item as a part of your ikebana. You can cut into the right size of the vase.
Color ring
When you use a grass vase, this item might be perfect choice. You can change the shape easily.
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History of Kenzan
When arranging flowers, various techniques are used to secure and support them. In the early days of ikebana, methods such as using forked branches (matagi) and bundled straw (komiwara) were used, and these techniques are still passed down today. However, the most commonly used flower holder now is the kenzan, and its convenience is well known.
Although kenzan is widely used today, it is said to have started being used from the end of the Meiji era (1868-1912) to the beginning of the Taisho era(1912-1926). There are many claims about its inventor, but the actual origin remains unclear.
In the biography of Choka Adachi, who studied at Ikenobo and later founded his own school, there is a part that mentions, "Around Taisho 3 (1914), Choka was enthusiastic about improving kenzan."
From this, it can be inferred that kenzan appeared in the late Meiji era and was improved during the Taisho era, leading to its current form.
How kenzan are made
All the kenzan sold by the online shop Karaku are handmade, with each piece made with care and attention to detail. Let's take a look at the process of how kenzan are made.
Put needles one by one to the mold, there are mold for each size.
Put needles on the whole hole, next to make the bottom part of the kenzan. Again, set to mold.
Then pour heated lead.
After the lead cooled and solidified, remove it from the mold.
Now the kenzan removed from the mold.
If there are burr on its bottom, they might be a cause of hurting people, so it needs to be removed.
At the end, put the rubber to prevent the kenzan to be slipped, and done!
Now you can see that kenzan is made of a lot of time and effort of craftsman. However, it is said that when you arrange ikebana, you better try your best to not show a kenzan. Indeed, kenzan plays important role of supporting ikebana “from the shadows.”