The Origins and History of Traditional Japanese Reiki
Early Influences and Cultural Background
Although Reiki itself was founded in Japan in the early 20th century, it emerged within a cultural and spiritual environment shaped by centuries of influence from Buddhism, Shinto, Taoist philosophy, meditation practices, and traditional East Asian healing arts.
Between the 8th and 9th centuries, elements of Chinese medicine and energetic philosophy entered Japan, introducing concepts relating to Ki (life energy), the energetic body, breathing practices, and spiritual cultivation. Practices such as Qi Gong, known in Japan as Kiko, together with traditional Japanese methods such as Te-ate and Shiatsu, formed part of a broader cultural understanding that health, energy, mind, and spirit were deeply interconnected. It is within this wider spiritual and cultural landscape that Reiki would later emerge.
Mikao Usui – Founder of Usui Reiki Ryōhō
A central figure in Reiki’s history is Mikao Usui, often respectfully referred to as Usui Sensei. Born in Taniai-mura in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, in 1865, Usui was known as a dedicated spiritual seeker with broad interests in philosophy, religion, martial arts, medicine, psychology, and personal development.
Historical records and the Usui memorial inscription suggest that after years of spiritual study and life challenges, Usui undertook a period of intensive spiritual training on Mount Kurama near Kyoto in 1922. This retreat is believed to have involved fasting, meditation, contemplation, and ascetic practices associated with shugyō — a traditional Japanese discipline of spiritual cultivation and self-transformation.
On the 21st day of this retreat, Usui experienced what is described as a profound spiritual awakening or enlightenment experience. Following this event, he developed a healing and spiritual practice that became known as Usui Reiki Ryōhō — the Usui Spiritual Energy Healing Method. Usui reportedly began by treating himself and members of his family before gradually teaching and offering treatments to others.
The Establishment of Reiki in Japan
In April 1922, Usui established the Usui Reiki Ryōhō Gakkai in Aoyama, Tokyo, where he taught Reiki as both a healing practice and a spiritual discipline. Central to his teachings were the Reiki precepts (Gokai), which encouraged living with gratitude, calmness, honesty, compassion, and freedom from anger and worry.
Reiki, as originally taught by Usui Sensei, was not solely a hands-on healing method, but also a path of spiritual development and self-cultivation intended to bring greater harmony to mind, body, and spirit.
Usui’s reputation as a healer and teacher spread rapidly throughout Japan, particularly following the Great Kantō Earthquake of 1923, during which he and his students are said to have offered treatment and support to many affected people. As public interest grew, a larger training hall was later established in Nakano, Tokyo.
Usui Sensei’s Philosophy and Influences
Usui Sensei’s teachings reflected the spiritual and philosophical atmosphere of Japan during his lifetime. Researchers believe his system drew influence from a variety of traditions and practices familiar within Japanese culture at the time, including Buddhism, meditation, Kiko, martial disciplines, and traditional approaches to healing and spiritual refinement.
However, much of Usui’s original training remains uncertain, and modern Reiki scholarship generally recognises that some aspects of his background are open to interpretation due to limited surviving documentation.
What remains clear is that Usui’s emphasis was not on dogma or religion, but on personal practice, spiritual development, compassion, and the cultivation of inner balance.
The Development and Spread of Reiki
Following Usui Sensei’s passing in Fukuyama in 1926, his teachings continued through his students, including Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, who further organised and taught the system. One of Hayashi’s students, Hawayo Takata, later introduced Reiki to Hawaii and North America. As Reiki spread into the West, certain elements of the practice evolved in response to cultural differences and historical circumstances. Some traditional Japanese aspects became simplified or adapted, while additional angelic, spiritual and New Age interpretations emerged over time.
Modern Reiki therefore exists in many forms today, ranging from more traditional Japanese approaches to contemporary Western interpretations.
Traditional Japanese Reiki Today
At Kikoh Reiki, our approach remains rooted in the traditional Japanese foundations of Usui Reiki Ryōhō. We honour Reiki as both a healing art and a path of self empowerment, personal and spiritual development, with emphasis on, self-practice, palm Ki cultivation, compassionate treatment, meditation and wellbeing in everyday life.
References
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The Original Reiki Handbook of Mikao Usui by Frank Arjava Petter
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Translation of the Usui Memorial Inscription and research from the Usui Reiki Ryōhō Gakkai and modern Japanese Reiki scholarship