The Concept of Ma in Spatial Organization and Aesthetic Perception within Japanese Tea House Architecture

Abstract

This research article aims to: 1) analyze the role of the concept of ma as the primary mechanism for spatial organization within the Japanese tea house; 2) examine the integration of architectural elements in determining experiential distance and rhythm; and 3) explain the aesthetic perception process emerging from the relational void within tea house architecture. Utilizing a documentary research methodology, this study synthesizes architectural history, aesthetics, and cultural dynamics. The findings reveal that: 1) the concept of ma functions as an operational mechanism that regulates physical bodily distances and coordinates cultural objects, thereby establishing a dynamic spatial relationship system; 2) architectural elements integrate as a unified system to govern kinesthetic perception, whereby the nijiriguchi entrance lowers the user's line of sight and restricts structural visualization, while the grid layout of tatami mats defines precise stepping coordinates and seating orientations in close proximity; and 3) the aesthetic perception process is formed through the chronological moderation of visual perception via light and shadow control at the shoji windows, while the tokonoma space extends aesthetic energy alongside the traditions of flower arrangement (kado) and tea ceremony (sado) to prompt bodily awareness of the relational void at each specific moment.