Ma and the Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden: A Reflection of Space, Time and Place

Abstract

“Ma” is a Japanese philosophy that combines space, time, and place that provides a mechanism to understand Japanese garden aesthetics. The medium of papercutting is used to explore the concept of “ma” using the subject of the Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden at Como Park in Saint Paul, Minnesota. In addition, to exploring the concept of “ma,” this thesis aims to document the history of the Japanese garden and the garden’s designer, Masami Matsuda, as a symbol of friendship between Saint Paul and Nagasaki sister cities, and cultural understanding.