is a generic term for the arrangement of flowers put together for display at a Japanese tea ceremony, and also for the wide variety of plants conventionally considered as appropriate material for such use, as witnessed by the existence of such encyclopedic publications as the Genshoku Chabana Daijiten [All-color encyclopedia of chabana]. The method of arranging the flowers is according to the nageire, or thrown in, style of flower arranging. In turn, nageire is recognized as a certain stylistic category of Kadà Â, the Japanese "Way of Flowers". These all developed from ikebana, which had its origin in early Buddhist flower offerings (kuge). Chabana, however, refers specifically to the flower display in the room or space for chadà Â, and though it fundamentally is a form of ikebana, it comprises a genre unto its own.
The history of follows hand-in-hand with the history of , and within that historical milieu, emerged in tandem with the rise of around the Momoyama period. Sen no Rikyà « is considered the most influential person in the development of wabi-cha, and is also credited as the originator of the accompanying mode of flower arrangement, which is characterized by freedom and spontaneity in expressing the natural beauty of the material. Among the statements attributed to him, the first one in the set of seven known as "Rikyà «'s Seven Precepts" (Rikyà « shichisoku) concerns chabana. It goes, "The flowers [Chabana] should be such as they are in the moor." In the history of ikebana, the style was added to the more stylized rikka arrangement around the end of the 1600s, as influenced by chabana. The term "" was first used in 1765 during the Meiwa period. It is believed to first appeared in The Tale of Genji.
can have a variety of uses depending on the styles of a certain tea ceremonies. In some cases, and flowers will be placed together or separately from , and a pot of Japanese sweet flag was placed on the pot. Other than Japanese sweet flag, cammellia, plum blossoms, chrysanthemums, and daffodils is commonly used. There are some flowers that are prohibited, such as "western flowers". According to Southern Record, flowers of plants such as wintersweets and mountain mugwort, alongside strong fragrant flowers, and flowers from plants with thorns are generally prohibited.
comes with minimal rules and appeals to those who prefer a simple, natural look in their creation. The arrangement is a seasonal expression of flowers placed in a simple vase or basket. It is intended to both heighten and deepen the atmosphere of the tea gathering as called for by the occasion.