Part 6 of 12 中段chūdan
The Center That Does Not Become a Prison
中段: a point of balance from which transformation remains possible.
By MoroMoro · · 1 min read · moromoro and the Stance of Great Emptiness
In this context, 中段 (chūdan) occupies an especially interesting position. moromoro writes:
「構のきはまりは中段と心得べし、中段の構本意也」
The essence or central point of stance should be understood through 中段.
He even compares it to the position of a general commanding an army.
But “center” should not be interpreted as immobility. It is better understood as:
A point of balance from which transformation remains possible in every direction.
This makes the image of moromoro particularly interesting. His body does not appear to be announcing:
“I am in this stance.”
Instead, it appears to exist at a point from which it could immediately transform into something else.
Artistically, we might describe this as:
A form that has not yet hardened.
The form is visible. But its future possibilities have not been closed.