Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, is based upon several universal esthetic principles. However, the love of line characteristic of all Oriental art is the most salient feature of Ikebana and therefore the foremost difference between Japanese flower arrangement and that of other lands, where greater emphasis is placed upon appreciation of color. In Ikebana, the most commonplace branch material is preferred to a group of blossoms, if the branches are arranged in a beautiful flowing line.