rikka; formal upright ikebana style
A traditional, highly structured style of Japanese flower arrangement (ikebana) characterized by tall, upright compositions. Often contrasted with the simpler 生け花 (ikebana) or 投入れ (nageire) styles. The term is used as a proper noun for the style itself.
See also: 生け花
Rikka is a formal style of ikebana that was established in the Muromachi period.
It is said that nageire suits a tea room better than rikka.
Every week she arranges flowers in the rikka style at her class.
生け花 is the general term for Japanese flower arrangement, while 立花 refers specifically to the formal, upright style within it.
投入れ is a casual, free-form style of arranging flowers, contrasting with the structured, tall composition of 立花.
Standard kanji spelling for this traditional ikebana style.
Alternate kanji spelling using 華 (flower, splendor) instead of 花; less common but seen in traditional contexts.
From 立 (standing, upright) + 花 (flower), referring to the tall, standing arrangement of flowers. The reading りっか is the on'yomi of the kanji.