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, Tenchu and certain neo-ninja.
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