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.^{[citation needed]} The Christian and medical background were probably introduced to allow better acceptance of the Japanese technique in the western world.^{[citation needed]}

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).

See also

• Reiki
• Mikao Usui
• Alternative Medicine
• Glossary of Alternative Medicine
• US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Meiji Restoration
• Meiji Emperor
• Chujiro Hayashi
• Hawayo Takata