Detail: Ten Thousand Flowers pairs Japanese bamboo art with flowers in a nod to their longstanding relationship. In the 6th century, it was customary to place offerings of flower petals in bamboo trays before an image of the Buddha. Over time, arrangements of stemmed flowers replaced petals. Eventually, flower arrangements became more ornamental and relocated to living quarters where they were important design elements. Today, bamboo artists do not necessarily expect that their work will be used to hold flowers. The importance of functionality and relevance of ikebana is a matter of active debate, and each artist has a different stance.