Kuji-Kiri

Kuji-kiri (九字切り lit. „nine symbolic cuts“^?) is a practice of using hand gestures found today in Shugendō and Shingon Mikkyō.^[1][2] It is also present in some old and traditional schools („ryūha„) of Japanese martial arts including but not exclusive to schools that have ties with ninjutsu.

The Nine Cuts

• Rin – Power
• Hyo – Energy
• Toh – Harmony
• Sha – Healing
• Kai – Intuition
• Jin – Awareness
• Retsu – Dimension
• Zai – Creation
• Zen – Absolute

Religious symbolism and meanings[edit]

The Kuji-in were created from the gesture of both the hands. The left hand Taizokai represents a receptive valence, and the right hand Kongokai conveys an emitter valence. The Kuji Kiri performed with the right hand are to emphasize the cut of the ignorance of the Maya (illusion) (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 oneself to reach various states of consciousness. Derived from the Taoistdualism, Jaho could be seen as Yin, and Kobudera as Yang.

Mantra and mudra[edit]

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, Japanese mantra that go with the same mudra. As to why there appears to be no correlation between the mudra and mantra and the representative deities is unknown at this time. Also many mantra end with the Sanskrit word o’ṃ (om). The meaning of o’ṃ is literally „to shout loudly“, while the esoteric religious meaning is seen as the sacred name or essence of God and means „I am existence“. It is used at the end of the invocation to the god being sacrificed to (anuvakya) as an invitation to and for that God to partake of the sacrifice.

There is no indication of where this particular kuji ritual comes from. It seems to be one of more common forms of the Buddhist (possibly Shugendo) kuji. If the original source is discovered it will be made available.

The mudra [hand postures] are as follows:

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

Mudra is, dokko-in/kongoshin-in, „seal of the thunderbolt.“

Note: the mudra dokko-in is associated with Tammon-ten/Bishamon-ten. Whereas the mudra kongoshin-in is the mudra of Taishaku-ten (Indra)

Mantra is, On baishiramantaya sowaka. [All hail the Vajra (diamond thunderbolt) of glory and sacrifice, o’ṃ] [Eng.]

Note: this is the mantra of Tamon-ten/多聞天 (a.k.a. Bishamon-ten) (Vaiśravaṇa)

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.

Mudra is, daikongorin-in, „seal of the great thunderbolt.“

Mantra is, On ishanaya intaraya sowaka. (All hail the instrument of divine righteousness, o’ṃ)

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

Mudra is, gejishi-in „seal of the outer lion.“

Note: this mudra is not found in Shingon. But is rather a Shugendo mudra.

Mantra is, On jiterashi itara jibaratanō sowaka. [All hail the exultant and glorious celestial jewel, o’ṃ]

Note: this mudra is associated with the pair of lions which stand guard over Buddhist temples, in particular the lion who utters the sound „a“, the alpha.

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“.

Mudra is, naijishi-in „seal of the inner lion.“

Note: this mudra is not found in Shingon. But is rather a Shugendo mudra.

mantra is, On hayabaishiramantaya sowaka. (All hail the swift thunderbolt of exalted strength, virtue, and glory! o’ṃ)

Note: this mudra is associated with the pair of lions which stand guard over Buddhist temples, in particular the lion who utters the sound „Un“ (hūṃ), the omega.

Note: the Sanskrit word haya as in the prefix of the God Hayagriva means „horse“ (bato – Jpn.) and is used to denote the concept of „swift“, „to ride“, „to harness“, Etc.

皆 (Kai): Hands together, fingers interlocked.

Mudra is, gebaku-in „seal of the outer bonds.“

Mantra is, On nōmaku sanmanda basaradan kan. [Homage to all-pervading diamond thunderbolts. Utterly crush and devour! o’ṃ] [Eng.]

Note: this is the „One Word Mantra/不動一字呪 of Fudo myo-O (Acalanatha)

Note: The Sanskrit bija/bonji (esoteric syllable) haṃ (Kan – Jpn.) is a concept that cannot be exactly defined. It is the bija of Hayagriva and also Acala, and symbolizes a divine weapon of sorts, like a vajra spear or vajra sword thrown or wielded against an enemy, and denotes something like „split“, break“, „devour“, or „crush“, referring to the devouring of all evils. The „ṃ“ at the end with theanusvara (nasal) is the universal symbol.

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

Mudra is naibaku-in „seal of the inner bonds.“

Mantra is, On aganaya in maya sowaka. [All hail the glory of Agni (God of the Sacred Fire). o’ṃ!]

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.

Mudra is, Chiken-in „seal of the wisdom fist,“ also known as „seal of the interpenetration of the two realms.“

Note: this is the primary mudra associated with Dainichi Nyorai (Vairocana)

Mantra is, On irotahi chanoga jiba tai sowaka. [All hail the radiant divine all-illuminating light, bursting and streaming forth in all directions, o’ṃ]

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

Mudra is „seal of the ring of the sun.“

Mantra is, On chirichi iba rotaya sowaka. (Glory to Devine perfection, o’ṃ)

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

Mudra: hobyo-in/ongyo-in „seal of the hidden form, mudra which conceals its form“

Note: The mudra hobyo-in is associated with Fugen Bosatsu (Samantabhadra) in the Kongo-Kai mandara, as well as Ichiji Kinrin. Whereas the mudra ongyo-in is a mudra associated with Marishi-Ten(Marici).

mantra: On a ra ba sha nō sowaka [All hail! A ra pa ca na. o’ṃ)

Note: this is mantra of Monju bosatsu (Mañjusri Bodhisattva)

Note: Each letter of this bija mantra is associated with some point of the Dharma, and all together are referred to as the syllable-doors (to the Dharma). The ‘power’ of these syllables is somewhat cryptically explained, but the point is that all of the reflections are pointing towards the nature of sunyata.

Note: There is no further translation to this mantra. It is composed entirely of bija/bonji and cannot be reduced any further.