Kuji (九字)
The Kuji (九字) are an ancient protective spell consisting of nine Chinese characters
臨兵闘者皆陣列在前
which are read "Rin Pyō Tō Sha Kai Jin Retsu Zai Zen". In koshintō, mikkyō and shugendō, the kuji have a variety of interpretations and a number of uses.
Also associated with each character of the kuji is ahand gesture, known as an in (印) or mudra; collectively, the nine gestures are referred to as the kuji-in (九字印). In addition, each character and in has a shingon (真言), a Sanskrit mantra, associated with it. The kuji are commonly used in a protective spell called kuji-kiri (九字切り), or "cutting the kuji".
Summary of the Kuji
| 臨 | Rin |
|---|---|
| Shingon (rōmaji) | On baishiraman taya sowaka |
| Shingon (katakana) | オン・バイシラマン・タヤ・ソワカ |
| In | Dokka-in (独古印, Vajra Mudra) |
| 兵 | Pyō |
|---|---|
| Shingon (rōmaji) | On isha naya in tara ya sowaka |
| Shingon (katakana) | オン・イシャ・ナヤ・イン・タラ・ヤ・ソワカ |
| In | Daikongō-in (大金剛印, Great Vajra Mudra) |
| 闘 | Tō |
|---|---|
| Shingon (rōmaji) | On jite rashi itara jiba ratanō sowaka |
| Shingon (katakana) | オン・ジテ・ラシ・イタラ・ジバ・ラタノー・ソワカ |
| In | Sotojishi-in (外狮子印, Seal of the Outer Lion) |
| 者 | Sha |
|---|---|
| Shingon (rōmaji) | On haya baishiraman taya sowaka |
| Shingon (katakana) | オン・ハヤ・バイシラマン・タヤ・ソワカ |
| In | Uchijishi-in (内狮子印, Seal of the Inner Lion) |
| 皆 | Kai |
|---|---|
| Shingon (rōmaji) | On nōmaku sanmanda basaradan kan |
| Shingon (katakana) | オン・ノーマク・サンマンダ・バサラダン・カン |
| In | Gebakuken-In (外缚印, Seal of the Outer Bonds) |
| 陣 | Jin |
|---|---|
| Shingon (rōmaji) | On aga naya in maya sowaka |
| Shingon (katakana) | オン・アガ・ナヤ・イン・マヤ・ソワカ |
| In | Naibakuken-In (内缚印, Seal of the Inner Bonds) |
| 列 | Retsu |
|---|---|
| Shingon (rōmaji) | On hirota ki shanoga jiba tai sowaka |
| Shingon (katakana) | オン・ヒロタ・キ・シャノガ・ジバ・タイ・ソワカ |
| In | Chiken-in (智拳印, Seal of the Wisdom Fist) |
| 在 | Zai |
|---|---|
| Shingon (rōmaji) | On chirichi iba rotaya sowaka |
| Shingon (katakana) | オン・チリチ・イバ・ロタヤ・ソワカ |
| In | Nichirin-in (日印, Seal of the Ring of the Sun) |
| 前 | Zen |
|---|---|
| Shingon (rōmaji) | On a ra ba sha nō sowaka |
| Shingon (katakana) | オン・ア・ラ・バ・シャ・ノー・ソワカ |
| In | Ongyo-in (宝瓶印, Seal of the Hidden Form) |
The Kuji-in (九字印)
Rin—臨—Dokka-in (独古印, Vajra Mudra)
Pyō—兵—Daikongō-in (大金剛印, Great Vajra Mudra)
Tō—闘—Sotojishi-in (外狮子印, Seal of the Outer Lion)
Sha—者—Uchijishi-in (内狮子印, Seal of the Inner Lion)
Kai—皆—Gebakuken-In (外缚印, Seal of the Outer Bonds)
Jin—陣—Naibakuken-In (内缚印, Seal of the Inner Bonds)
Retsu—列—Chiken-in (智拳印, Seal of the Wisdom Fist)
Zai—在—Nichirin-in (日印, Seal of the Ring of the Sun)
Zen—前—Ongyo-in (宝瓶印, Seal of the Hidden Form)
Kuji-kiri