蓮は三世を表すと言い、過去、現在、未来を象徴する三世代の葉と花を織り交ぜてひとつの立花を仕上げます。若い葉から朽ちた葉、蕾から花が散った後の花托まで、さまざまな生育段階のものを用います。いけばなという静物の中に時間の経過を感じさせるわけです。

The lotus is said to represent “Sanze(Buddhist terminology)” — past, present, and future. A single Rikka weaves together leaves and flowers from three stages of life to show this. We use everything from young leaves to withered ones, and from buds to the seed pods left after the flowers have fallen. In this way, ikebana — something still and quiet — lets us feel the passage of time.