When Less is More: Japanese Concept of "MA", Minimalism and Beyond
Posted by Yukiko Kisaki on 16th Sep 2023
Where there is clutter, even valuable things lose their value. Where there is too much, nothing stands out.
The essence of Japanese aesthetic is a concept called MA (pronounced "maah") — the pure, and indeed essential, void between all "things."
A total lack of clutter, MA is like a holder within which things can exist, stand out, and have meaning. MA is the emptiness full of possibilities — like a promise yet to be fulfilled.
Minimalism and Beyond
When you feel there is too much clutter, it’s not necessarily because you have too many things — it may be because you don’t have enough MA.
The presence of MA makes the minimalism of a Japanese tatami room so serene. However, minimalism is limited to physical form and space, where MA is not.
MA is in the purposeful pauses in speech, the silence between musical notes, and the quiet time that gives our lives meaning. It creates the peace of mind — called heijoshin in Japanese — that allows thoughts to breathe and thrive.
Examples in Daily Living
MA is not limited to philosophy or art — it’s part of daily Japanese life. Children are taught to pause at the bottom of a bow, to let it have weight and meaning.
A tea break is only refreshing if taken quietly, away from work. That space — that MA — is what allows us to reset.
Negative Space (and Time?)
Artists understand the power of negative space — the emptiness that gives form its meaning.
MA expands this idea into time. Even brief tasks deserve a beginning and end. Without MA, our time becomes a blur of activity — like an essay with no punctuation.
A Poetic View
Here is an old poem about the meaning of MA:
Thirty spokes meet in the hub,
though the space between them is the essence of the wheel.
Pots are formed from clay,
though the space inside them is the essence of the pot.
Walls with windows and doors form the house,
though the space within them is the essence of the house.
Finding Fulfillment: The Art of Letting Go
Modern life often drives us to accumulate — things, titles, experiences — hoping they’ll bring fulfillment. But the more we collect, the more cluttered our lives can become.
To live fully is to move with grace, embrace possibility, and create space — not by holding on tightly, but by letting go.
This is the essence of MA.