Life
Usui was born on 15 August 1865 in the village of Taniai (now called Miyama cho) in the Yamagata district of the Gifu Prefecture, Japan, which is now located near present day Nagoya.
Usui was influenced by Shintoism, the traditional faith of the Japanese people prior to contact with China. Shintoism focuses on the kami, which are spirits in the forms of birds, animals, mountains, trees and people. An 18th century scholar, Motoori Norinaga (1730–1801) said, "According to ancient usage, whatever seemed strikingly impressive, possessed the quality of excellence, or inspired a feeling of awe was called kami". Usui was known to use jumon (呪文) – spells or incantations in his teachings, derived from Shintoism and Taoism.
Usui also is also said to be shugenja (修験者) practicing Shugendō (修験道) in addition to his alleged practice as a Tendai Buddhist. Shugendō is a Japanese mountain ascetic shamanism, which incorporates Shinto and Buddhist practices. Roles of Shugendō practitioners include offering religious services such as fortune telling, divination, channelling, prayer, ritual incantations and exorcism. Shugenja was often used by family clans to heal disease or to avoid misfortune.
Usui had various careers, including acting as private secretary to Count Shinpei Gotō (後藤新平, Gotō Shinpei).
Read more about this topic: Mikao Usui
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