To Western eyes, the minimalist simplicity of Japanese decorating is refreshingly quieting to the mind. We find ourselves drawn to that quiet place because there is joy there—even if we can’t quite put our finger on why.
The Japanese concept of “ma” (place, space) differs from the Western concept of a three-dimensional space, a home or building. Ma, a tradition going back to the roots of Japanese civilization, encompasses space as a function of time, as well. Which are in turn functions of experience (mind), art, society, and metaphysics (spirit). Many of the concepts are rooted in Buddhism.
