Kuji-kiri

Kuji Kiri (九字切り lit. "nine symbolic cuts") is found today in Shugendo, 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 curse (jumon) to cause ones adversary to meet a foul end. But the finger cuts are used to focus ones mind, you should focus on 1 of the 9 at a time to get anything from this. Also note with time you will feel the affects of focusing your mind through meditation enabling you to think clearer, faster and be able to increase your physical strength and speed. However you cannot perform majik like the movies suggest.

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-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.

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 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.

Popular culture

The Tekken character Raven would sometimes recite the Kuji Kiri after defeating an opponent. Naruto also uses this to perform ninjutsu majik.

In Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars would recite Kuji Kiri when trowing an offuda, followed by Akuryo Taisan (evil spirit, be gone).

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 consciousness. 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.