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- History: Flower offerings are of Buddhist origin; originally with 2 flowers left of the altar, 2 candles to the right and a censer in the middle; later then only one each. This is still done today, for example, for 利休記.
- They can either be placed on the floor, hung on the wall (or 床柱) or hung from the ceiling (usually boats or half-moons).
- They can also be categorised according to material, giving us a 真・行・草 hierarchy. However, the shape can interfere with the categorisation, independent of the material.
- 真: metal things, celadon, porcelain.
- 行: All boat shapes (even bamboo), glazed Japanese wares.
- 草: Unglazed Japanese wares, 楽; gourds, baskets and bamboo. Also, glass, and みたて wares.
- Of course, there's also a 風炉・炉 divide: Baskets and gourds are for summer; except for lacquered Chinese baskets, which can be used all year.
花板
- 真: 真塗, 矢筈
- 行: はまぐりば, 真塗
- 草: はまぐりば, unlacquered wood (Baskets don't need a board)
Bamboo 花入
- In 1590, 利休 made 3 famous bamboo 花入: 尺八, よなが, 音常時
- The latter Hideyoshi didn't like, but rikyu sent it to Oribe
- In 1660, Onjoji vase was rated Japan's best vase.
Copper 花入
- kyo-zutsu, the shape of a sutra container.
- 鶴の一声 or 鶴の端 (Crane's voice) was a vase that 利休 was really fond of.
