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
Every week she arranges flowers in the rikka style at her class.
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.
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.