out in front

Kuji-in

Kuji-in (九字印), "Nine Syllable Seals," is a specialized form of Buddhist meditation. It is derived from the Diamond Universe Nine Assemblies mandala of Shingon Buddhism. It is also used by other Buddhist sects, especially in Japan; some Taoists and practitioners of Shinto and Chinese traditional religion; and in folk-magic throughout East Asia.

Technically the word "Kuji-in" refers only to the hand postures (mudra) and their related incantations (mantra). The related practice of making nine cuts--five horizontal and four vertical, alternating--in the air with the finger or on paper with a brush is known as "kuji kiri," nine syllable cuts. In Japanese folk-magic and Onmyodo, the nine cuts are often made over writing or a picture, to gain control of the object named or pictured. Thus, a sailor wishing to be protected from drowning might write them over the kanji for "sea" or "water".

The Kuji-in practice symbolizes that all the forces of the universe are united against evil; because of this, it was often used by the common people for luck when traveling, especially in the mountains.

Mantra and mudra

In Japanese, the nine syllables are: Rin (臨), Pyō (兵), Tō (闘), Sha (者), Kai (皆), Jin (陣), Retsu (列), Zai (在), Zen (前). If the nine cuts are then made, as is sometimes done, the syllable Kō (行) is sometimes spoken.

Note that the syllables are shortened forms, and there are also longer, Sanskrit mantra that go with the same mudra.

The hand postures are as follows:

Jumon is On baishiraman taya sowaka. Mudra is dokko, "seal of the thunderbolt."

臨 (Rin): Hands together, fingers interlocked. The index (sometimes middle) fingers are raised and pressed together.

Jumon is On isha naya in tara ya sowaka. Mudra is daikongo, "seal of the great thunderbolt."

兵 (Pyō): Hands together, pinkies and ring fingers interlocked (often on the inside). Index finger and thumb raised and pressed together, middle fingers cross over index fingers and their tips curl back to touch the thumbs' tips, the middle-fingers' nails touching.

Jumon is On jite rashi itara jiba ratanō sowaka. Mudra is "seal of the outer lion."

闘 (Tō): Hands together, index fingers cross each other to touch opposite ring fingers, middle fingers crossed over them. Ring and pinky fingers are straight. Tips of ring fingers pressed together, tips of pinkies pressed together, but both sets of ring and pinky fingers are separated to form a V shape or bird beak.

Jumon is On haya baishiraman taya sowaka. Mudra is "seal of the inner lion."

者 (Sha): Hands together, ring fingers cross each other to touch opposite index fingers, middle fingers crossed over them. Index finger, pinky and thumb straight, like American Sign Language "I love you".

Jumon is On nōmaku sanmanda basaradan kan. Mudra is "seal of the outer bonds."

皆 (Kai): Hands together, fingers interlocked.

Jumon is On aga naya in maya sowaka. Mudra is "seal of the inner bonds."

陣 (Jin): Hands together, fingers interlocked, with the fingertips inside.

Jumon is On hirota ki shanoga jiba tai sowaka. Mudra is "seal of the wisdom fist," also known as "seal of the interpenetration of the two realms."

列 (Retsu): Left hand in an upward-pointing fist, index finger raised. Right hand grips index finger, and thumb is pressed onto left index's nail.

Jumon is On chirichi iba rotaya sowaka. Mudra is "seal of the ring of the sun."

在 (Zai): Hands spread out in front, with thumb and index finger touching.

Jumon is On a ra ba sha nō sowaka. Mudra is "seal of the hidden form," also simply called the "meditation mudra."

前 (Zen): Hands form a circle, thumbs on top and fingers on the bottom, right hand overlapping left up to the knuckles.

Meanings in Shinto

Each word is translated to the following meaning for Shinto.

Rin: To face.
kyō /Hyō/Hei: The soldier.
Tōh: To fight.
Sha: The man (or the people); a foe
Kai: The all, or the whole effect, or whole effort.
Jin: In Formation, or position in camp or to prepare.
Retsu: To move in column or a row, in a line; or marching, or to focus.
Zai: To appear, or to exist to make yourself known, or create existence.
Zen: To be in front. or show up in front.

Kuji-in is used as part of a ritual in Shinto is used to purify a person with a waterfall.

Meanings in Buddhism

Each word is translated to the following meaning in Buddhism.

Rin, to confront
Pyō /Hyō/Hei to soldier on
Tō, to Battle with
Sha, Against One/Person
Kai, With everyone/entire/group
Jin, The formation
Retsu, In a row
Zai, To Presence
Zen, To move Forward

There as many as 81 variations to the Kuji-in in certain sects of Buddhism in Japan, to say nothing of other mudra that are also used.

Meanings in Ninjutsu

While the kuji-in have no unique relation to ninjutsu, the ninja traditions are steeped in esoteric Buddhist beliefs, especially Mikkyo. The kuji-in are used in a number of their meditations, both those related simply to their religious practice and those dealing with their martial arts; in some ways, they are used similarly to the Taoist ideas in Chinese internal martial arts (some of the ideas of Chinese internal arts are, however, incorporated in many Japanese arts, including ninjutsu and jujutsu). In his book Ninja Vol. II: Warrior Ways of Enlightenment, Stephen K. Hayes claims the following interpretations:

Rin - Strength
Pyō / Hyō - Channel
Tō - Harmony
Sha - Healing
Kai - Sense of Danger
Jin - Reading of thoughts.
Retsu - Control space and time.
Zai - sky or elements control.
Zen - enlightenment.

The kuji-in are a tool to be used in meditation, and are frequently over-simplified in popular culture as being a form of magic. This misrepresentation, along with the misuse of the mudra and mantra, has been further popularized by Dead or Alive, Tekken, and certain neo-ninja.

In popular culture

In the anime Sailor Moon, Rei used the Kuji-in in front of a fire to see visions. She also used it to banish oni when used with an ofuda, or anti-evil scroll, with the chant "Rin, pyou, tou, sha, kai, jin, retsu, zai, zen. Akuryou taisen! (Evil spirits, disperse!)" This was first seen in episode 10. In the English adaptation, the chant was changed to "I call upon the power of mars. Fireballs charge!" or variants of this phrase. Later it was changed to "Sun, Moon, Sky, Earth, Fire, Air, Water, Rock, Star!"

References

Qi-gong and Kuji-in: A Practical Guide to an Oriental Esoteric Experience by François Lépine ISBN 0-9781105-0-1
Ninja Volume 2: Warrior Ways of Enlightenment by Stephen K. Hayes ISBN 0-8975007-7-7