Kuji-kiri

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Kuji Kiri (九字切り lit. "nine symbolic cuts") is found today in Shugendo (the religion of Japanese Mountain Priests, Shugenja), Shingon Mikkyo (an esoteric Buddhist sect) and many 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 "jumon" to cause ones adversery to meet a foul end.

Contents 1 Kuji Kiri and Self Hypnosis 2 Kuji Kiri and Kuji In 3 Kuji Goshin Ho 4 Kuji Kiri and the Ninja 5 Kuji Kiri and the Modern World 6 Religious Symbolism and Meanings

[edit] Kuji Kiri and Self Hypnosis

Kuji Kiri is essentially a process of seishin toitsu or mental/emotional focus brought about through cutting gestures made in the air with ones right hand. It is thought to have been performed in times of great need when the person in question needed to bring his or her mental focus to the maximum. It is for these reasons that Kuji Kiri could be regarded as a form of self hypnosis by the casual scholar. However, such an interpretation ignores the spiritual components of Kuji Kiri and should therefore be considered an inadequate and incomplete assumption.

[edit] Kuji Kiri and Kuji In

A subset of Kuji Kiri, Kuji In (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.

[edit] Kuji Goshin Ho

Kuji Goshin Ho (九字護身法) is in essence a ritual ceremony of spiritual self protection that employs Kuji Kiri and Kuji In to call upon the strongest spirits in the natural world. It is for these reasons alone that Kuji Goshin Ho, Kuji Kiri and Kuji In should not be performed light heartedly. It is taught that he who wilfully attempts to cause harm to others through the misuse of Kuji Goshin Ho will ultimately cause harm to himself.

[edit] Kuji Kiri and the Ninja

In days when prayer and meditation was the closest and quickest tool for mental/emotional control available, the Ninja would find use for Kuji Kiri in order to secure success on missions that would otherwise fail without total concentation and nerves of steel.

[edit] Kuji Kiri and the Modern World

Kuji Kiri has even found its way into the world of Japanese sports where some athletes can often be seen sporting tiny taped latices (representing the nine cuts symbolically) on their skin. How this started and what the belief in this practice is is unknown.

[edit] 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 Mikkyo, one would come to create an opening in the daily world that would allow one to reach various states of conscience. Some Kuji Kiri is made up of Jaho, and Kobudera. Derived from the Taoist dualism, Jaho could be seen as Yin, and Kobudera as Yang. This has deeper significance in the various forms of Kuji Kiri that exist.