Items · Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures

Traditional Japanese room with floral arrangement in a blue teapot vase and a hanging scroll with calligraphy.

She painted her flower arrangement created in 1948 under the Ikenobo teacher, Mr. Kokurio. This arrangement is set in the old Ikenobo college's tokonoma alcove in the tearoom.

Miniature garden scene with a stone pagoda, red and green foliage, and a small stream.

Miniature scenic floral art

This painting is based on her miniature scenic floral art inspired by a Haiku poem by Kawahigashi Hekigoto. The crimson carpet Scattered with maple leaves where no one stepped, My garden path is better left unswept. -Hekigodo-

Black and white photo of women practicing Ikebana in a classroom.

Transcription of Text:

6

I studied Ikenobo five and a half with Mrs. Kobayashi. She was not only a wonderful friend but companion.

I also studied with two other great, great Ikenobo masters that made my life in Japan a wonderful world of flowers.

Mr. Ukichi Fujiwara of Tokyo is a great, great teacher. Mrs. Takako Hatta and I studied Shoka and Rikka in the home of this wonderful teacher, two and one half years.

After Master Tsukamoto's death I continued to study with Mrs. Fujii who is teaching today in Rokkakudo, Ikenobo.

Teaching flower arrangement to students

Teaching flower arrangement to students, in her journal of My World in Ikenobo

Two women in kimonos engage in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, with a bonsai on a table between them.

Receiving an Ikebana certificate

Picture of Mrs. Chandler receiving an accolade

Japanese newspaper page with text and two photographs: a small portrait and a full-body image of a person in traditional attire.

Japanese newspaper article

Japanese newspaper article about Mrs. Chandler

Black-and-white photo of two dolls in traditional Japanese attire with a small toy dog.

Hakata doll of Junkyo

Hakata Ryu arrangement of Junkyo Oishi and a man talking to each other in front of the temple

Two people look at a model of a traditional Japanese building with detailed roofs and panels on a table. Shoji screens are in the background.

With paper lantern maker, Mr. Yamashita

She met Mr. Tatsuji Yamashita, who was chosen as an honorary citizen in the city for his skillful technique, and showed it in front of the emperor. He showed a paper lantern, Romon gate of Aso shrine.

Two people beside a model of a multi-tiered pagoda indoors.

With paper lantern maker, Mr. Nakajima

The picture was taken when the paper pagoda of Yakushi ji temple was completed by Mr. Tsugito Nakajima. As it only used Japanese Washi paper and glue, building up to this height without any distortion requires a high level of skills and training.

Two people examine an architectural model of a traditional Asian building.

With paper lantern maker, Mr. Higashida

Mrs. Chandler visited the atelier of Mr. Higashida making a paper lantern, a Konpira shrine. She learned the technique and process of making and the story behind it.

A man in traditional Japanese clothing and a woman in Western attire stand on steps outside a building.

In front of Omiya shrine with Shinto priest

This is the place where she encountered the beautiful paper lantern architecture which is given as an offering to this shrine during the Yamaga lantern festival. These replicas of actual buildings are made to scale at around 1/120 to 1/30 reduction with only paper and glue.

Two people examining traditional Japanese dolls on a table.

Visiting a doll artist, Mr. Zenjiro Hirano

Mrs. Chandler visited many doll artists during her stay in Japan in order to learn their skillful techniques and dedication to making dolls. She also ordered her original Hakata dolls, such as historical figures not only in Japan but the US.

Two women sculpting figurines at a table with various clay statues.

Visiting a doll artist, Mrs. Tami Nakanoko

Mrs. Tami Nakanoko is the granddaughter of Kichibei Nakanoko, the founder of Hakata dolls. She learned from her father, Kichisaburo, from her childhood, and at the age of 21, she started her own carrier. She has lived her entire life devoted to doll making and was selected as a Designated Intangible Cultural Asset of Fukuoka city.

People working with and observing small sculptures in a workshop setting; sculptures and figures cover the tables.

Watching painting of a Hakata Doll

Hakata dolls are all handmade and unglazed clay dolls. It is said it requires years of dedication just to pick up the basics.

Unit takes over museum

Corpus Christi Caller, September 10, 1974 Mrs. Chandler donated the collection of Japanese dolls and other artifacts to the nonprofit organization, the Billie Trimble Chandler Art Foundation in 1974. The museum is a great asset to the community through its display and programs.

Page promoting the Oriental Art Museum's opening, featuring text, two black-and-white photos, and an advertisement for a publication called "The Texas Tropical Coast Sparkler."

Opens Oriental Art Museum in 1973

The Texas Tropical Coast Sparkle, Vol.2, No. 7 November 1973 Mrs. Chandler first opened the Art Museum on November 9, 1973. The museum consisted of four departments: Japanese paintings, a Hakata doll house, Japanese artifacts, and a floral art classroom. She also hosted various tours in the museum.

Two women arranging flowers, with branches and leaves on a table.

Teaching flower arrangement to a student

Picture of Mrs. Chandler teaching floral arrangement to a student

Woman holding a flower arrangement with Japanese calligraphy plaques on the wall behind her.

Mrs. Chandler with flower arrangement

She is looking at a flower arrangement. Her several titles hanging on the wall behind; -Ko Ryu Ikebana Kyoju (teacher) -Sougetsu Ryu -Hosokawa Ryu Bonseki Kyoju (teacher) -Chi Ko Ryu Seika/Kado Kyoju (teacher)

Three people kneeling on the floor examine a scroll with text.

Rikka certificate from Ikenobo school

She had the great privilege of being able to study Rikka (the oldest temple altar arrangement) under the great master Shoukei Tsukamono in 1958. On December 24, 1959, Sen Ei IKenobo gave Mrs. Chandler a Rikka teacher's Certificate. She was the only foreign person in the world to receive certificates from Mr. Tsukamoto at that time.

Certificate of completion for Mrs. Billie T. Chandler from the Ikenobo Floral Art Seminar issued on June 19, 1963, with text in both English and Japanese, and an embossed flower emblem at the top.

Transcription of Text:

"Mrs. Billie T. Chandler"
"THE IKENOBO FLORAL ART SEMINAR"
"This is to certify that Mrs. Billie T. Chandler has completed with strenuous efforts the course of 1st Grade Professor in the Ikenobo Floral Art."
"Issued on June 19, 1963"
"HEAD MASTER The Forty-fifth Generation IKENOBO SCHOOL OF FLORAL ART."

1st grade professor certificate

Ikenobo is the oldest and largest school of the Ikebana flower arrangement in Japan. She received the certificate of the 1st-grade professor from the Ikenobo Floral art on June 19, 1963.

Two women in kimonos exchange a document while seated on cushions in a traditional Japanese room.

Receiving certificate from Shofu school

She received Shian, a master's degree certificate, from Jyosui Oshikawa, Ikebana Master of the Shofu School.

Two women in kimonos smiling at each other while holding a paper. A bouquet of roses is in the foreground.

Receiving certificate from Ko Ryu school

She received Shihan, a master's degree certificate, from Mrs. Wakabayashi, the Ikebana Master of the Ko Ryu School.

Research tree of Japanese flower arrangement

Her research of Ikebana schools, which is Japanese flower arrangement styles. It is said there are more than 300 schools in Japan, she learned it at major 9 schools. Based on this knowledge and her passion for Japanese art, she created her own style, Hakata Ryu.

Mrs. Chandler with her artwork-Hakata Ryu

Combination of Hannya mask of Noh play and flower arrangement. Noh is the oldest performing art in Japan, with dance and music. She enjoyed creating new art forms, Hakata Ryu, to introduce Japanese culture.

Older woman in a dark dress stands behind a detailed miniature Japanese scene with a figurine, trees, plants, and a pagoda.

Mrs. Chandler with her artwork -Hakata Ryu

Shotoku Taishi (Prince Shotoku) and a five-story pagoda in Horyuji temple are placed with a flower arrangement. He is one of the most famous historical figures in Japan, who established the court system and created the seventeen-article constitution.

Traditional Japanese screen (byōbu) with a figurine in a red kimono and a floral arrangement.

Her artwork of Hakata Ryu in the Geisha story

This is a picture from her first book featuring Madame Butterfly in a dance pose in front of a golden screen. She realized that Hakata dolls can be beautifully complemented with flower arrangements.