What is Kuji-in?

The kuji-in (Chinese: 九字印) also known as Nine Hand Seals refers to a system of mudras and associated mantras that consist of nine syllables. The mantras are referred to as kuji (九字), which literally translates as nine characters. The syllables used in kuji are numerous, especially within Japanese esoteric Mikkyō.

Scholars have stated that kuji is of Taoist origin, not Buddhist. There is no mention of the kuji in any of the Shingon or Tendai records that were brought back from China.

The use of kuji is largely a layman’s practice and is uncommon in many orthodox Buddhist traditions. It is, however, found extensively in Shugendō, the ascetic mountain tradition of Japan, and Ryōbu Shintō, which is the result of blending Shingon Buddhism and Shinto.

More about Kuji-in in Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuji-in

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