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Kuji-In gestures: what are they and what are they for?

Origins

Kuji-In gestures (or Kuji-Kiri “nine hand seals”) are a series of hand positions that were used in Ninjutsu (but also in a variety of other martial arts and spiritual disciplines, read Ninja (shinobi): who they were and how they acted):

They are said to have originated in India, and were brought to Japan by Buddhist monks (read also Martial arts: all derive from Kung Fu?)
They are a system of mudras and associated mantras that consist of nine syllables

Note – This article has been asked by one of our Core Course practitioners on Patreon (see how to attend our home study classes here Learn Kung Fu online: a beginner-to-expert course).

For what purpose were they performed

From a purely esoteric point of view (that in our system we refuse, read 6 Dragons Kung Fu: what does it teach?) Kuji-In gestures were believed to have various “superhuman capabilities”, including:

Predicting danger
Mind reading
Wound / illnesses self-healing
Invisibility
Protection from harm
Empowerment
…

A note by Master Kongling – What was the real effect of these mystical signs? It is interesting to stress that, from a strictly practical / scientific point of view, the fact that all these effects are impossible to obtain was not so important. The crucial fact is that the shinobis who executed them truly believed that, automatically entering a sort of mental state of extreme focus. It was essentially a powerful mental conditioning capable of exponentially elevating mental performance. The key point is that the difference between who is truly invincible (impossible) and who manages to convince himself / herself of it (the ninja) only manifests itself when (if) one fails. The advantages? Enormous, in a mission where life is risked, starting with the certainty of having activated unattainable capabilities helps to eliminate all the typical human reactions in the face of danger (doubt, uncertainty, fear, etc.) transforming tension into calm, fear into courage, weakness in force (and so on).

From a more realistic and practical point of view, Kuji-In gestures can be seen as a sort of short meditation (read Meditation mini-guide: how to start) and their real benefits are:

Increased focus and concentration
Reduced stress and anxiety
Improved physical and mental performance

Kuji-In gestures: meaning and execution

Meaning

The nine hand signs in Kuji-In are:

Rin (臨) – This sign represents the element of water and is said to promote calmness and clarity
Pyo (兵) – Energy (energy direction), this sign represents the element of fire and is said to increase courage and strength
To (触) – Harmony (one-ness with the universe or self), this sign represents the element of earth and is said to provide stability and grounding
Sha (殺) – Healing (of self and others), this sign represents the element of air and is said to enhance speed and agility
Kai (空) – Intuition (premonition of danger, feeling others’ intent), this sign represents the void and is said to open the mind to new possibilities
Retsu (力) – Dimension (control of time and space), this sign represents the moon and is said to increase power and vitality
Zai (存) – Creation (understanding nature), this sign represents the stars and is said to enhance intuition and wisdom
Jin (進) – Awareness (feeling thoughts of others, perhaps hiding our own), this sign represents the sun and is said to promote growth and development
Zen (全) – Absolute (enlightenment), this sign represents the universe and is said to bring everything together in harmony

Execution

To perform a Kuji-In gesture, we have to:

Place our hands in the appropriate position (the image of this article is more than enough)
Visualize the corresponding element or concept
Connect the hand stimulation to the mental one
Practice them on a regular basis (and not only when we need their benefits, read Fighting and mind control: the anchors)
Execute them with maximum focus and concentration

A note by Master Kongling – For the Kuji-In gestures to work it is not so much the technical aspect that is important but the intensity with which they are performed: the brain must realize that something unique, special and not attributable to anything else is taking place. How to convert this into practice? Let’s focus on the tension of the gesture (physical and mental).

We can do this by sitting in meditation or at any other moment of our day but to start it is better to follow these indications:

Find a quiet place where we will not be interrupted
Sit in a comfortable position and close our eyes
Visualize the corresponding element or concept as we perform each gesture
Breathe deeply and slowly (read Breathe Yoga: the warrior’s breathing)
Practice for at least 5-10 minutes each day

With regular practice, we will start to experience the benefits of Kuji-In and gradually we will become able to exploit them in contexts of higher and higher complexity.

In-depth video courses

Mind self-control hacks – How to improve our mental capabilities (focus, planning, quick reasoning, etc.)
Meditation: how to start – A step-by-step path toward the benefits of meditation
Breathing methods and exercises -All the breathing techniques of 6 Dragons Kung Fu (for combat, stealth, advanced body control, etc.)
Basic stealth techniques – Ancient and modern invisibility methods
Soft qi gong for wellness – A video course with a selection of practices made to improve health and wellness

In-depth articles

5 teachings from the movie ninja assassin – Is it possible to learn something valuable from a ninja movie?
Ninja weapons: names and pictures – The ancient weapons of the shinobi

Questions

Reply in the comments and share your experience:

Did you know these gestures?

Author: Master Kongling

Founder of 6 Dragons Kung Fu.

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