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March 24, 2025
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When discussing the origins of the system of Reiki, we often focus on Mikao Usui’s spiritual experience on Mount Kurama or the Buddhist and Shinto influences in his practice. However, a fascinating clue about the system’s origins appears in Usui’s own words from the Usui Reiki Ryoho Hikkei (Reiki Healing Method Manual), suggesting that elements of his system may have come from his samurai family background.
Breaking with Family Tradition
In the introduction to the manual, Usui’s words are quoted:
“From ancient times whenever someone develops a secret method the one would teach this to the people among family, as a legacy for the later generations of the family living.”
This sentence acknowledges a historical reality: a variety of arts including healing and spiritual practices in Japan were often kept as closely guarded family secrets, passed down through generations. This was particularly true among samurai families, who maintained exclusive knowledge of martial arts, healing techniques, and spiritual practices.
Usui appears to criticise this approach, calling it “really the past century’s bad custom.” This statement represents a radical break with tradition, especially considering Usui’s own samurai lineage. Historical records indicate that Usui came from a samurai family who were “hatamoto” – a high-ranking position within the samurai class who served as the shogun’s personal guard.
A New Approach for Modern Times
Usui explains his reasoning for breaking with tradition: “In modern days we have to live together. That’s going to be the basis of happiness, earnestly wanting social progress.”
This reflects the dramatic social changes occurring in Japan during Usui’s lifetime. The Meiji Restoration (1868) had abolished the samurai class, forcing many samurai families to find new roles in society. Usui, born in 1865, lived through this transition and appears to have embraced a more progressive, inclusive approach appropriate for the new era.
His declaration, “I definitely won’t allow to keep this for myself,” signals a deliberate choice to share what may have been family knowledge that would traditionally have remained private.
What Was the Secret Method?
When Usui states that “Our Reiki Ryoho is a creative idea, which no one has developed before and there is nothing like this in this world,” he hints at something unique – yet his earlier comments suggest he’s drawing on traditional knowledge.
This apparent contradiction may be resolved by understanding that Usui likely combined elements from his family traditions with other influences (Buddhist and Shinto practices, martial arts training, etc.) to create something new. The system’s uniqueness may lie in its synthesis rather than in completely novel techniques.
A Bold Declaration or Political Navigation?
Usui concludes with a statement that underscores the significance of his choice: “I dare to openly teach this method.” The use of the word “dare” is telling – it suggests an act of courage, perhaps even defiance against traditional expectations that such knowledge should remain exclusive.
Naturally, we must also consider the complex political context of Usui’s time. During the Meiji Restoration, there was immense pressure to align with the emperor’s vision of modernisation and national progress. The government actively promoted State Shinto while suppressing Buddhism through policies like shinbutsu bunri (separation of Shinto and Buddhism).
Since Buddhism first arrived in Japan around 600 AD, Shintoism and Buddhism had developed in both separate and intertwined ways, with periods of syncretism and conflict throughout Japanese history. Prince Shōtoku (574–622) made the first efforts to reconcile the two belief systems, and by the 8th century, shrine-temple complexes emerged combining both traditions. This relationship created a rich spiritual landscape where many Japanese practiced elements of both traditions simultaneously.
For the People’s Benefit
Usui’s language about sharing knowledge “for the peoples benefit and welfare” echoes Meiji-era rhetoric about national progress. His incorporation of the Meiji Emperor’s poems (gyosei) into his practice further suggests some alignment with imperial ideology. Yet, according to the memorial stone it appears he remained a zaike, a lay Buddhist monk, during this challenging period, indicating a more nuanced relationship with the political forces of his time.
It’s quite possible that Usui’s public statements reflected a careful navigation of political realities while still maintaining his own beliefs. His emphasis on breaking with tradition may have been both genuine conviction and strategic positioning in an era where the old samurai ways were being forcibly dismantled in favour of modernisation.
Sharing a Hidden World
While we may never know exactly which elements of the Reiki system came from Usui’s samurai family traditions or how much his public positioning was influenced by the political pressures of the Meiji era, his own words strongly suggest that family influences existed and that his decision to share them widely was significant.
The system we practice today represents not only Usui’s spiritual insights but also his progressive choice to share knowledge that might traditionally have remained hidden within his family line – a choice made during a time of profound social and political transformation in Japan.
OPEN TO PUBLIC TEACHING AND EXPLANATION
(Usui Reiki Ryoho Excerpt)By founder: Usui Mikao
From ancient times whenever someone develops a secret method the one would teach this to the people among family, as a legacy for the later generations of the family living. That idea, not to open to the public and keep that sacred method in the family, is really the past century’s bad custom.
In modern days we have to live together.That’s going
to be the basis of happiness, earnestly wanting social progress.That’s why I definitely won’t allow to keep this for myself.Our Reiki Ryoho is a creative idea, which no one has developed before and there is nothing like this in this world.Therefore I am going to open this idea to anybody for the peoples benefit and welfare.
And everyone will receive the blessing from God (divine). With this, expect everyone to have soul and oneness. Our Reiki Ryoho is an original therapy method using the power based on Reiki, which is a universal power in the universe.
With this, first for human beings themselves to be strong and healthy. Then to improve the thoughts, to be mild and healthy, and human life to be pleasant.
Nowadays inside and outside of living we need improvement and restructuring away from illness and suffering, many fellows have worrying mind out of illness and accident.
I dare to openly teach this method.
