The art of arranging flowers, known as ikebana or kado, is an expression of the Japanese aesthetic and developed as a native art, independent of all outside influences.

It began under the Shoguns of the 15th century, and later, in the Edo period, different schools began to develop.

The styles of flower arranging can be divided into two main categories: formal and natural. To the formal style belongs the rikka, or standing style, from which came a more popular form called the ten-chi-jin, or "heaven-earth-man".
The natural style is known as nageire, or "thrown-in". It appeared as part of the tea ceremony in the 15th century. According to this style, flowers are arranged in a vase as naturally as possible. Because of its association with the tea ceremony, this style is also called cha bana, "tea flowers".

There are three fundamental principles in the arrangement of flowers in the formal style: they are the leading principle (heaven), the subordinate principle (earth), and the reconciling principle (man).
If a single plant or branch is used, the main part shooting upwards represents heaven, a twig on the right bent sideways in a V-shape denotes man, and the lowest twig or branch on the left with the end slightly bent to point upwards signifies earth. Three separate plants or branches - not necessarily of the same kind - are often used to represent these three elements.
Other important aspects are: the nature of the flower, the location in which the arrangement is placed, and the shape of the vase.
In the home, flower arrangements are usually placed in the alcove or tokonoma. This has a hanging scroll in it (kakemono), and it important that the flower arrangement does not obscure it. If the scroll depicts mountain scenery, flowers that grow in marshes or by river banks should be used, but if the kakemono shows flowering plants, then flowering branches should be chosen for the vase.

Beginners are usually first taught to arrange haran ( a long-leafed variety of orchid). Their training is considered complete when they can arrange flowers which are considered the most difficult: the arrangement of a single blossom of botan (tree peony) is regarded as extremely difficult.

Modern ikebana (zen'ei ikebana or zen'eibana) is more fluid than the classic style. Along with the tea ceremony and calligraphy, ikebana was one of the arts in which women were traditionally schooled in preparation for marriage. Today, flower arrangement is still counted as one of the major traditional arts in Japan.