Kuji-kiri
Encyclopedia
Kuji-kiri is a practice of using hand gestures found today in Shugendo
and Shingon Mikkyo
. It is also present in some old and traditional schools ("ryuha") of Japanese martial arts including but not exclusive to schools that have ties with ninjutsu
. Originally thought to have originated from Taoism
and brought to Japan from China by Buddhist monks, it is often misconceived as a spell or curse (jumon) to cause ones adversary to meet a foul end.
The meanings have also been interpreted differently.
(九字印 lit. "nine symbolic signs") is the name given to the hand postures that represent each of the nine cuts when performed in the long form as detailed in Shingon Mikkyo
Kuji Goshin Ho.
, one would come to create an opening in the daily world that would allow one to reach various states of consciousness. Derived from the Taois
t dualism, Jaho could be seen as Yin
, and Kobudera as Yang
. This has deeper significance in the various forms of Kuji Kiri that exist.
Shugendo
is a highly syncretic Buddhic religion or sect and mystical-spiritual tradition which originated in pre-Feudal Japan, in which enlightenment is equated with attaining oneness with the . This perception of experiential "awakening" is obtained through the understanding of the relationship between...
and Shingon Mikkyo
Mikkyo
Mikkyō is a Japanese term that refers to the esoteric Vajrayāna practices of the Shingon Buddhist school and the related practices that make up part of the Tendai school. There are also various Shingon- and Tendai-influenced practices of Shugendō...
. It is also present in some old and traditional schools ("ryuha") of Japanese martial arts including but not exclusive to schools that have ties with ninjutsu
Ninjutsu
or may be:*the arts associated with espionage and assassination in feudal Japan, see Ninja*modern schools of martial arts claiming to be based in these traditions, see Modern Schools of Ninjutsu*fictional depictions, see Ninja in popular culture...
. Originally thought to have originated from Taoism
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
and brought to Japan from China by Buddhist monks, it is often misconceived as a spell or curse (jumon) to cause ones adversary to meet a foul end.
The Nine Cuts
- Rin - Power
- Pyo - Energy
- To - Harmony
- Sha - Healing
- Kai - Intuition
- Jin - Awareness
- Retsu - Dimension
- Zai - Creation
- Zen - Absolute
The meanings have also been interpreted differently.
- RIN - STRENGTH of mind and body
- PYO - DIRECTION OF ENERGY
- TOH - HARMONY with the universe
- SHA - HEALING of self and others
- KAI - PREMONITION of danger
- JIN - KNOWING THE THOUGHTS OF OTHERS
- RETSU - MASTERY OF TIME AND SPACE
- ZAI - CONTROL of the elements of nature
- ZEN - ENLIGHTENMENT
Kuji Kiri and Kuji In
A subset of Kuji Kiri, Kuji-inKuji-in
Ku-ji simply means “nine syllables”, and refers to a variety of mantras that consist of nine syllables. The syllables used in kuji are numerous, especially within the realm of mikkyo . The kuji most often referred to is of Taoist origin, not Buddhist...
(九字印 lit. "nine symbolic signs") is the name given to the hand postures that represent each of the nine cuts when performed in the long form as detailed in Shingon Mikkyo
Mikkyo
Mikkyō is a Japanese term that refers to the esoteric Vajrayāna practices of the Shingon Buddhist school and the related practices that make up part of the Tendai school. There are also various Shingon- and Tendai-influenced practices of Shugendō...
Kuji Goshin Ho.
Kuji Kiri and the Modern World
How this started and what the belief in this practice it is unknown. It is a protection spell, you put a kanji symbol of whatever you want protection from inside a 9 lined grid representing RIN, KYO, TOH, SHA, KAI, JIN, RETSU, ZAI, ZEN have to draw lines in that order for it to work.Religious Symbolism and Meanings
The Kuji In were created from the gesture of both the hands, (the left hand Taizokai possess a receptive valence, and the right hand Kongokai possess an emitter valence). The Kuji Kiri performed with the right hand are to emphasize the cut of the ignorance of the Veil of Maya (that is the deceptive sensory world) through the Sword of the Wisdom. In this way, according to the belief system of Shingon MikkyoMikkyo
Mikkyō is a Japanese term that refers to the esoteric Vajrayāna practices of the Shingon Buddhist school and the related practices that make up part of the Tendai school. There are also various Shingon- and Tendai-influenced practices of Shugendō...
, one would come to create an opening in the daily world that would allow one to reach various states of consciousness. Derived from the Taois
Taoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
t dualism, Jaho could be seen as Yin
Yin and yang
In Asian philosophy, the concept of yin yang , which is often referred to in the West as "yin and yang", is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn. Opposites thus only...
, and Kobudera as Yang
Yin and yang
In Asian philosophy, the concept of yin yang , which is often referred to in the West as "yin and yang", is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn. Opposites thus only...
. This has deeper significance in the various forms of Kuji Kiri that exist.