Kuji-kiri

Kuji-kiri (九字切り, lit. "nine symbolic cuts") is a practice of using hand gestures found today in Shugendō and Shingon Mikkyō.[1][2] It is also present in some old and traditional schools ("ryūha") of Japanese martial arts including but not exclusive to schools that have ties with ninjutsu.

The Nine Cuts

  • (臨) Rin – Power
  • (兵) Hyo/Pyo – Energy
  • (闘) Toh – Harmony
  • (者) Sha – Healing
  • (皆) Kai – Intuition
  • (陣) Jin – Awareness
  • (列) Retsu – Dimension
  • (在) Zai – Creation
  • (前) Zen – Absolute

Religious symbolism and meanings

The Kuji-in were created from the gesture of both the hands. The left hand Taizokai represents a receptive valence, and the right hand Kongokai conveys an emitter valence. The Kuji Kiri performed with the right hand are to emphasize the cut of the ignorance of the Maya (illusion) (that is the deceptive sensory world) through the Sword of the Wisdom. In this way, according to the belief system of Shingon Mikkyo, one would come to create an opening in the daily world that would allow oneself to reach various states of consciousness. Derived from the Taoist dualism, Jaho could be seen as Yin, and Kobudera as Yang.

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See also

References
  1. Hosak, Mark; Lübeck, Walter; Grimm, Christine M. (2006). The Big Book of Reiki Symbols: The Spiritual Transition of Symbols and Mantras of the Usui System of Natural Healing (1st ed.). Twin Lakes, Wis.: Lotus Press. ISBN 0914955640.
  2. Okum, David (2008). Manga Martial Arts: Over 50 Basic Lessons for Drawing the World's Most Popular Fighting Style (1st ed.). Cincinnati, Ohio: Impact Books. ISBN 1600610293.
  • Media related to Kuji-kiri at Wikimedia Commons
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