Can mokuso literally mean close your eyes?


In numerous martial arts, the command mokuso(黙想) is used to get students to
clear their minds before training. Many many people (often very high level
people) think that this literally means close your eyes.

Nevertheless, analysis of the two kanji involved will clearly show that the
translation is more like "silent contemplation".

I can understand the confusion about the moku part because 目(eye) has a go-on
reading of moku, just like 黙(silent/still). However, I didn't know that "so"
could ever mean "to close". So, is it possible for mokuso to actually mean
"close your eyes" in another context?




I think 想 and そう don't have the meaning of "to close". And when we do 黙想, we
actually close our eyes but 黙想 isn't to close one's eyes. So we don't use 黙想
as the meaning of "close your eyes".

黙想 means "To look at inside yourself with your eyes closed". And I think 黙想
before and after the practice of martial arts is mainly done to get the mood
ready for the practice and calm the excited mood.

