Timeline of Reiki history

Below is a time line of Reiki's history, including events and information regarding prominent Reiki characters who helped develop the system into what is known as modern day Reiki.

Timeline

1800s

1865

August 15. Birth of Mikao Usui in Taniai. Gifu Prefecture. Japan.

1868

The Meiji Restoration so-called by the Meiji Emperor, began.

1873

The ban on Christianity is lifted (relevant to the deceptive history of Reiki provided by Hawayo Takata in 1970).

1880

September 15: Chujiro Hayashi born in Tokyo, Japan.

1900s

During the 1990s it was discovered that the history of Reiki as told by Hawayo Takata was not correct. The Christian and medical background were probably introduced to allow better acceptance of the Japanese technique in the western world.

1900

December 24: Hawayo Kawamuru, later known as Hawayo Takata, was born.

1902

Chujiro Hayashi graduates from the Japanese Naval Academy.

1906

Birthdate of Kimiko Koyama, the 6th President of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai from 1975 until 1999.

1907

Sadako Suzuki becomes the wife of Mikao Usui.

1908

Fuji Usui, first son of Mikao Usui and Sadako Suzuki is born.

1913

Toshiko Usui, first daughter of Mikao Usui and Sadako Suzuki is born.

1915

The Tendai Buddhist nun "Suzuki-san" allegedly becomes the first female student of Mikao Usui, remaining under his training until his death in 1926.
The book "Kenzen no Genri" is published. Author: Dr. Bizan Suzuki. The Reiki Precepts were first printed in this book.

1917

March 10: Hawayo Kawamuru and Saichi Takata got married and Hawayo Kawamuru became Hawayo Takata.

1918

Chujiro Hayashi becomes the Northern Japan Mt. Osore Director of Ominato Port Defense Station.
Mikao Usui begins practice of Zen and the Zazen meditation form.

1920

Chiyoko Yamaguchi is born. Chiyoko-san founded Jikiden Reiki.
Toshihiro Eguchi studies under Mikao Usui.

1921

Mikao Usui is hired as an administrative assistant in the Department of Health and Welfare.
Mikao Usui incorporates the principles from the book "Kenzen no Genri" into his practice.

1922

Mikao Usui spends a 21-day meditation retreat on Mountain Kurama Yama.
Mikao Usui opens his first commercial Reiki clinic.
Mikao Usui introduces Reiju Empowerments to his student base.

1923

Mikao Usui implements the grading system used in the martial art practice Judo as Reiki Levels.
Mikao Usui finances the construction of The Torii Gate located at the Amataka Shrine.
September 1: The Great Kanto earthquake hit Tokyo and Yokohama, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale.

1924

Mikao Usui relocates his commercial Reiki business to Nakano, a province located just outside of Tokyo.

1925

May: Chujiro Hayashi becomes a student of Mikao Usui.
Kaiji Tomita, a student of Mikao Usui, introduces four levels of Reiki practice: Shoden, Chuuden, Okuden and Kaiden. There are commonly three degrees in Western Reiki: Shoden (Level 1), Okuden (Level 2), and Shinpiden (Level 3 - Teacher/Master level).

1926

Mikao Usui had been experiencing significant trouble paying his bills. He travelled to Fukuyama to negotiate a resolution with his creditors and died of a stroke in the process.
Chujiro Hayashi claims ownership of Mikao Usui's commercial Reiki practice. The practice is relocated to The Shinano Machi district.
Juusaburo Gyuda, Japanese Naval Rear Admiral forms the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai.

1927

February: Memorial stone erected to honour Mikao Usui at Saihoji Temple located in Tokyo, Japan.

1928

Chujiro Hayashi accepts Wasaburo Sugano as a student.
March 4: Shou Matsui authors the first article to appear in a magazine about Reiki.
Eguchi Te-no-hira Ryoji Kenkyukai founded by Toshihiro Eguchi.

1930

Chujiro Hayashi renames what he teaches Hayashi Reiki Ryoho Kenkyukai.
The book "Te-no-hira Ryoji Nyumon" is published by Toshihiro Eguchi.

1931

Chujiro Hayashi is asked to leave The Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai for not respecting or practising by the standards set forth by Mikao Usui.

1933

Kaiji Tomita publishes the book "Reiki to Jinjutsu - Tomita Ryo Teate Ryoho".

1935

Toshiko Usui (daughter of Mikao Usui) and Jusaburo Ushida die.
Hawayo Takata travels to Japan and receives her first Reiki treatment.
Hawayo Takata becomes a student of Chujiro Hayashi and moves into his home.

1936

Hawayo Takata earns Reiki level two.
Hawayo Takata moves to Hawaii.

1937

Chujiro Hayashi travels to Hawaii to promote Reiki.

1938

February 21: Hawayo Takata receives her Reiki Master Certificate from Chujiro Hayashi.
Chiyoko Yamaguchi becomes a student of Chujiro Hayashi's version of Reiki.

1940

Hawayo Takata writes to her daughter who was living with Chujiro Hayashi and arranges a visit in March.
Hawayo Takata arrives in Japan. Chujiro Hayashi instructs her to live in Kyoto.
Chujiro Hayashi bequeaths his house and Reiki clinic to his wife.
May 11: Chujiro Hayashi commits seppuku.

1970s

Hawayo Takata's version of Reiki first becomes known in North America.

1980

December 11: Hawayo Takata dies.

References

Founding of Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai: (Lübeck, Petter, Rand 2001 p. 14)
Practice of 5 Principles: Part of Reiki Alliance membership agreement
The 5 Reiki Principles: Reiki Principles; (Petter 1998 p. 29); (Lübeck, Petter, Rand 2001 p. 95)
Number of people taught by Usui: (Lübeck, Petter, Rand 2001 p. 16)
Hayashi's teachings: (Lübeck, Petter, Rand 2001 p. 17, ch. 19)
Hayashi trained Takata: (Ellyard 2004 p. 13)
Takata's Reiki practice and teaching in the US: (Ellyard 2004 p. 15)
Start of Takata's teaching of Reiki Masters: (Ellyard 2004 p. 15)
Death of Takata: (Ellyard 2004 p. 16); some sources give the year of death as 1980: (Petter 1997 p. 21), (Veltheim, Veltheim 1995 p. 26)
Takata trained 22 Reiki Masters: (Ellyard 2004 p. 14), (Veltheim, Veltheim 1995 p. 26), (Petter 1997 p. 20)
Significance of Takata in bringing Reiki out of Japan: (Ellyard 2004 pp. 14, 16), (Veltheim, Veltheim 1995 p. 26)
The Radiance Technique brief history and "authentic" stance: (Ellyard 2004 p. 23)
The Radiance Technique, Authentic Reiki: Historical Perspectives, 1995
Founding of the Reiki Alliance: (Ellyard 2004 p. 20)
The Reiki Alliance accepting wide range of masters: (Ellyard 2004 p. 21)
Diversification of Reiki: (Ellyard 2004 p. 24)
Formation and aim of the Reiki Network: (Veltheim, Veltheim 1995 p. 113).
Takata's dates: (Brown 1992, p. 14, p. 18).
More Takata and other dates (Stiene 2003, pp. 44-48).