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Kuji in Métodos
Kuji in Métodos
The earliest known Japanese kuji comes from the Shingon monk Kakuban (1095-1143ADE)
who was an academic of Taluan�s writings and teachings. Kakuban introduces several
kuji formulas dedicated to Amida Nyorai, in his text Gorin kuji myo himitsu shaku
or Gorin kuji hishaku for short. The kuji formulas Kakuban introduces are commonly
grouped under the title zokushu, and are completely unrelated to original Taoist
kuji. Kakuban was followed by the monk Shinran (1173-1263ADE), founder of Jodo
Shinshu sect, who introduced several kuji formulas, also dedicated to Amida Nyorai.
Kakuban and Shinran were followed by the monk Nichiren, who founded the Nichren
sect, in 1730ADE who introduced a kuji prayer from chapter 26 of the Lotus Sutra
where it is uttered by the King of the North, Tammon-Ten/Bishamon-Ten (Vaisravana �
Skt.). None of these Japanese kuji formulas/prayers are related to Taoist kuji in
any way. Nichiren picked Tammon-Ten, the general of the Taoist Six Chia, to
dedicate his kuji prayer to. It is also important to note that the founder of
Shingon, Kobo Daishi (Kukai), nor the founder of Tendai, Saicho, never mentions the
kuji is any of their writings. And it therefore can be safely assumed they either
did not know of them, or if they did, they were considered only a minor teaching at
best.[citation needed]
The nine syllables of ku-ji have numerous correlations and associations with
Japanese esoteric Buddhism. They are associated with the gorin (five chakras), the
godai (five elements), certain directions of the compass, certain colors, and
numerous Tantric and esoteric deities.