Japanese Art

The Elements of Japanese Art: One, is hara; two is MA; three is intuition; and four is "michi" (the way). It expresses that part of the person that is innately and irrevocably natural and an expression of nature (internalized nature. The Japanese artists begins with nature on the "inside." Nature not being something that is outside and separate. Hara is the center of the human thus this is the source of inside nature as explained. MA ("ma" 虚空 - emptiness, empty, vacant, void; the air, empty space, the void) is a space-time concept and a "meaningful pause, interval, or space." Silences in Japan shout the deepest feelings. Intuition comes from long, deep study and experience. It is the distilled essence of a theme, an emotion, idea, or object. Michi, the way, implies devotion to discipline and perfection in one's art. - Edward T. Hall, author

As I study many things I sometimes find it exciting to run across references to the Asian mind. This is even more exciting when it actually speaks to the very thing I practice, an Asian Martial Art. This particular quote opens once hidden aspects about how the Asian, specifically the Japanese in this instance, practice an art form. In addition this quote:

Art in Japan encompasses all of the Zen disciplines, including flower arrangement, archery, and swordsmanship. As a consequence, much of art (martial in this instance of Japan) is highly contextual.

expresses how the contextual aspects of their culture vs. the American aspect which is a low context one differs such that the question is can we as Americans as a low context culture actually practice a Japanese art, a martial art?

If the arts as practiced in Asia are highly contexted and we are low contexted then like many examples we are at the exact opposite end of that spectrum so it appears that unless we are immersed deeply and for a very long time into that culture we would never truly have the capability or ability to truly study an authentic traditional martial art form.

Then I have to ask, does this also apply to the Okinawan art of karate? Since I can extrapolate from studies that both Japan and Okinawa were and are heavily influenced by the Chinese today and historically that Okinawan are also of a high contextual culture.

I feel we can get a feeling for it and we may be able to assimilate some of it but not unless we have a direct relation with an Okinawan master of the system of "Ti or Te."

Interesting where you find new knowledge. Even when you pick up a piece of material for study you sometimes find a connection where you least expect it and for me that is a very good thing.

This also brings to my thoughts that we shall need to differentiate between what is Japanese and what is Okinawan for they differ in great ways.

Bibliography:
Hall, Edward T. "The Dance of Life: The Other Dimension of Time." Anchor Books. New York. 1984, 1989.