Ikebana originated with Ikenobo, whose long history now encompassing both traditional and mordern stryles, continues with vigor at it's birthplace, the Rokkakudo temple in Kyoto, Japan. The temple, reported in legend to have been founded by Price Shotoku, an important figure in Japan's early history, has served as the home for successive generations of a family of priests whose name, "ikenobo", means "living near a pond." The Priests of this family have served as the hereditary headmasters of Ikenobo, masters who remain a central and guiding force in the world of ikebana.

As with many of the enduring traditional Japanese arts, the basic principles of ikebana were first formulated nearly 550 years ago in Japan's Muromachi period. The teachings of the headmasters of that time, Ikenobo Senkei and Ikenobo Senno, contributed to a fundamental awareness of the meaning of ikebana which continues to be taught and appreciated today. In the Momoyama and early Edo periods the work of the headmasters Ikenobo Senko I (early 1600's) and Senko II (mid 1600's) firmly established the character and popularity of the rikka form. With the flowering of the shoka form under Ikenobo Senjo in the early 1800's the number of ikebana devotees further increased. Headmasters Ikenobo Senmyo and Ikenobo Sensho brought the Ikenobo tradition into the 20th century.

Each of these headmasters adapted Ikenobo ikebana to suit the lifestyle of his time. Ikenobo Sen'ei, Ikenobo's 45th and present headmaster, continues this rich tradition while further filling it with the bright energy of mordern life. Ikenobo has thus assumed an important role in spreading ikebana throughout the world, working to bring its qualities of grace, refinement and naturalness to our modern culture.