Ma (negative space)

[1][2][3][4] In modern interpretations of traditional Japanese arts and culture, ma is 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.

[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".

Knowing the safe distance between oneself and an opponent based on their reach is considered "understanding ma".

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").

Ralph Richardson asserted that acting lay in pauses... Isaac Stern described music as "that little bit between each note - silences which give the form"...