Ma (間, lit.'gap, space, pause') is a Japanese reading of a Sino-Japanese character, which is often used to refer to what is claimed to be a specific Japanese concept of negative space.[1][2][3][4] In modern interpretations of traditional Japanese arts and culture, ma is taken to refer to an artistic interpretation of an empty space, often holding as much importance as the rest of an artwork and focusing the viewer on the intention of negative space in an art piece. The concept of space as a positive entity is opposed to the absence of such a principle in a correlated 'Japanese' notion of space. Though commonly used to refer to literal, visible negative space, ma may also refer to the perception of a space, gap or interval, without necessarily requiring a physical compositional element. This results in the concept of ma being less reliant on the existence of a gap, and more closely related to the perception of a gap.[5] The existence of ma in an artwork has been interpreted as "an emptiness full of possibilities, like a promise yet to be fulfilled", and has been described as "the silence between the notes which make the music".[6]
Left panel of the Pine Trees Screen (松林図 屏風, Shōrin-zu byōbu) by Hasegawa Tōhaku. The empty space in this piece is considered to be as important as the trees depicted.
Among English loanwords of Japanese origin, both ma (interval, space) and ken (unit of architectural measurement) are written with the Chinese character 間 derived from the character 門 ("door") and 日 ("sun").
Originally, the character 間 was written with the radical for "moon" (月) instead of the character for "sun" (日), and, in this form (閒, xián), depicted, according to Bernhard Karlgren, "A door through the crevice of which the moonshine peeps in".[7]
The character can be read differently when emphasis is put on the connection between things (awai), the distance between things (aida), or the distance between people (aidagara).[8]
Usage in Japanedit
Ma appears in many areas of Japanese arts and culture. For example, the tokonoma alcove in a traditional Japanese room is a space or a stage used to display important objects, such as a painting scroll, an important art object, or a flower arrangement. The concept is also associated with oku or the Japanese spatial concept of "inwardness".[9]: 4
In ikebana, the space around the flowers is considered to be equally as important as the flowers and plants themselves, with harmony and balance between the two considered the ideal.[10][11]
In karate, ma refers to the distance between two fighters. Knowing the safe distance between oneself and an opponent based on their reach is considered "understanding ma".
Usage in the Westedit
In his 2001 book, The Art of Looking Sideways, graphic designer Alan Fletcher discussed the importance that perceived negative space could hold in art:
Space is substance. Cézanne painted and modelled space. Giacometti sculpted by "taking the fat off space". Mallarmé conceived poems with absences as well as words. Ralph Richardson asserted that acting lay in pauses... Isaac Stern described music as "that little bit between each note - silences which give the form"... The Japanese have a word (ma) for this interval which gives shape to the whole. In the West we have neither word nor term. A serious omission.
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Ma 間 lit gap space pause is a Japanese reading of a Sino Japanese character which is often used to refer to what is claimed to be a specific Japanese concept of negative space 1 2 3 4 In modern interpretations of traditional Japanese arts and culture ma is taken to refer to an artistic interpretation of an empty space often holding as much importance as the rest of an artwork and focusing the viewer on the intention of negative space in an art piece The concept of space as a positive entity is opposed to the absence of such a principle in a correlated Japanese notion of space Though commonly used to refer to literal visible negative space ma may also refer to the perception of a space gap or interval without necessarily requiring a physical compositional element This results in the concept of ma being less reliant on the existence of a gap and more closely related to the perception of a gap 5 The existence of ma in an artwork has been interpreted as an emptiness full of possibilities like a promise yet to be fulfilled and has been described as the silence between the notes which make the music 6 Left panel of the Pine Trees Screen 松林図 屏風 Shōrin zu byōbu by Hasegawa Tōhaku The empty space in this piece is considered to be as important as the trees depicted Contents 1 Etymology 2 Usage in Japan 3 Usage in the West 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEtymology editAmong English loanwords of Japanese origin both ma interval space and ken unit of architectural measurement are written with the Chinese character 間 derived from the character 門 door and 日 sun Originally the character 間 was written with the radical for moon 月 instead of the character for sun 日 and in this form 閒 xian depicted according to Bernhard Karlgren A door through the crevice of which the moonshine peeps in 7 The character can be read differently when emphasis is put on the connection between things awai the distance between things aida or the distance between people aidagara 8 Usage in Japan editMa appears in many areas of Japanese arts and culture For example the tokonoma alcove in a traditional Japanese room is a space or a stage used to display important objects such as a painting scroll an important art object or a flower arrangement The concept is also associated with oku or the Japanese spatial concept of inwardness 9 4 In ikebana the space around the flowers is considered to be equally as important as the flowers and plants themselves with harmony and balance between the two considered the ideal 10 11 In karate ma refers to the distance between two fighters Knowing the safe distance between oneself and an opponent based on their reach is considered understanding ma Usage in the West editIn his 2001 book The Art of Looking Sideways graphic designer Alan Fletcher discussed the importance that perceived negative space could hold in art Space is substance Cezanne painted and modelled space Giacometti sculpted by taking the fat off space Mallarme conceived poems with absences as well as words Ralph Richardson asserted that acting lay in pauses Isaac Stern described music as that little bit between each note silences which give the form The Japanese have a word ma for this interval which gives shape to the whole In the West we have neither word nor term A serious omission The Art of Looking Sideways page 370 12 Author Derrick de Kerckhove described ma as the complex network of relationships between people and objects 13 See also editMaai Mu Wu wei a term in Chinese philosophy Negative space Yin and yang Liminality The Void philosophy References edit An Introduction to Japanese ThoughtCo FAQ Ma and Mu Houzz ArtLex s Ne Nz page Archived from the original on 2012 05 12 Retrieved 2007 12 27 A Note for MA Space Time in the Garden of Ryoan Ji Iimura www mfj online org Ma www columbia edu When Less is More Japanese MA concept minimalism amp beyond wawaza com Bernhard Karlgren Analytic Dictionary of Chinese and Sino Japanese Librairie orientaliste Paul Geuthner 1923 Dover Publications reprint 1974 p 130 Ma et Aida Des possibilites de la pensee et de la culture japonaises in French France Editions Picquier 2021 p 56 ISBN 978 2 8097 1521 7 Kosinski Jerzy 1995 Passing by Selected Essays 1962 1991 Grove Press ISBN 978 0 8021 3423 3 Ma Unique Japan MA The Japanese Concept of Space and Time by Kiyoshi Matsumoto Medium 24 April 2020 The Art of Looking Sideways by Alan Fletcher Page 370 Published by Phaidon 2001 ISBN 0 7148 3449 1 Genosko Gary 2 April 2019 Marshall McLuhan Theoretical elaborations Taylor amp Francis ISBN 9780415321716 via Google Books External links edit Negative Space discussing photographic techniques Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ma negative space amp oldid 1179431021, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
