A student once asked us whether the hand positions mattered. The answer changed depending on which lineage they meant. Jikiden Reiki (direct transmission) and Western Reiki both trace back to Mikao Usui, but they diverged sharply after 1937. The core difference is not in the energy itself but in how it is taught, practiced, and transmitted.
What Exactly Is Jikiden Reiki?
Jikiden Reiki (jee-kee-den ray-kee) means “direct teaching” or “direct transmission” in Japanese. It refers to the style of reiki passed down through the lineage of Mikao Usui (1865–1926) and Chujiro Hayashi (1880–1940) without the modifications introduced in the West. The term was coined in the 1990s by Hiroshi Doi and later popularized by Tadao Yamaguchi and his mother Chiyoko Yamaguchi, who had learned directly from Hayashi. Jikiden Reiki emphasizes the original hand positions, the use of byosen (scanning the body for areas of stagnation), and the practice of reiju (the Japanese attunement process) rather than the Western “attunement” ceremony.
What Is Western Reiki?
Western Reiki is the adaptation that Hawayo Takata (1900–1980) brought from Japan to Hawaii in 1937 and then taught across North America. Takata learned from Hayashi in Tokyo, but after returning to the West she modified several elements. She introduced fixed fees for attunements, simplified the symbols, and changed the hand positions to a more intuitive, free-form approach. Her students, especially Phyllis Lei Furumoto (Takata’s granddaughter), further codified these changes into what is now commonly called “Usui Reiki” in the West. Most reiki practiced outside Japan today descends from Takata’s lineage.
Where the Split Began: A Brief History
The story starts in 1922, when Mikao Usui, a Buddhist layman and scholar, experienced a spiritual awakening on Mount Kurama after a 21-day fast. He developed a system of healing and spiritual development he called Usui Reiki Ryoho (Usui Reiki Healing Method). Usui taught in Tokyo and later in the naval town of Kure. He trained about twenty shihan (teachers), including Chujiro Hayashi, a retired naval officer.
After Usui’s death in 1926, Hayashi opened a clinic in Tokyo and refined the practice. He created a standardized set of hand positions for treating specific ailments and kept detailed records. One of his patients was Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American woman from Hawaii who came to Japan in 1935 for surgery. Instead, she received reiki treatments and later became Hayashi’s student. She was initiated as a shihan in 1938.
Takata returned to Hawaii and began teaching. She charged $10,000 for the master level (a sum that caused controversy even then) and introduced the concept of “attunement” as a ritual separate from the daily practice. She also simplified the symbols and taught only four of the five that Usui had used. Her version spread rapidly in the West.
Meanwhile, in Japan, reiki continued quietly. The Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (the original society Usui founded) remained small and secretive. Other Japanese teachers, like Kiyoshi Mochizuki and Chiyoko Yamaguchi, preserved the methods Hayashi had taught them. In the 1990s, as Western reiki practitioners began traveling to Japan seeking “authentic” reiki, these Japanese lineages became known as Jikiden Reiki.
How the Practices Differ
The differences are not theoretical. They show up in the treatment room.
Hand positions. Jikiden Reiki uses a fixed sequence of positions that Hayashi developed: starting at the head, moving to the front of the torso, then the back, and finally the legs. The practitioner places hands on specific points for a set time, often using byosen to sense where the energy is needed. Western Reiki, by contrast, encourages intuition. Practitioners may hold hands wherever they feel guided, and the sequence is often treated as a suggestion rather than a rule.
Byosen and shirushi. Jikiden Reiki teaches byosen (a method of scanning the body with the hands to detect areas of heat, cold, or tingling) and shirushi (signs that indicate the body’s response, such as pulsing or vibration). These techniques are central to the practice. Western Reiki rarely includes them; instead, practitioners rely on the symbols or intuition.
Attunement vs. reiju. In Western Reiki, the attunement is a dramatic ceremony where the master opens the student’s energy channels using symbols and breath. Jikiden Reiki uses reiju, a simpler, more meditative process that does not involve symbols. The word reiju means “spiritual blessing” or “initiation.” It is performed with a few hand gestures and a focus on intention, often repeated over several days.
Symbols. Western Reiki uses three main symbols (Cho Ku Rei, Sei He Ki, Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen) and a fourth (Dai Ko Myo) for the master level. These are taught as sacred keys. Jikiden Reiki uses the same symbols but adds a fifth, Raku, which is used for closing treatments. More importantly, Jikiden teaches that the symbols are not secret and are not the source of power. They are tools, not the energy itself.
Distance healing. Both lineages practice distance healing, but the method differs. Western Reiki uses the Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen symbol to send energy across time and space. Jikiden Reiki also sends energy, but the emphasis is on the practitioner’s intention and the connection through the lineage, not on the symbol as a trigger.
What the Symbols Actually Mean
The symbols are a frequent point of confusion. In Western Reiki, they are often treated as the core of the practice. In Jikiden Reiki, they are secondary.
The first symbol, Cho Ku Rei, means “placing all the power of the universe here.” It is used to increase or focus energy. Sei He Ki is the mental-emotional symbol, used for healing trauma and addiction. Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen is the distance symbol, bridging time and space. Dai Ko Myo is the master symbol, representing enlightenment. Raku, the fifth symbol, means “to descend” and is used to ground the energy after a treatment.
Jikiden Reiki teaches that the symbols were originally taught as visualizations, not as drawings to be traced in the air. The emphasis is on the internal experience of the symbol, not the external gesture.
Common Misconceptions
“Jikiden Reiki is the only authentic form.” Both lineages trace to Usui. Jikiden preserves the original Japanese methods, but Western Reiki is not “wrong.” It is an adaptation that worked for a different culture. The energy is the same.
“Western Reiki uses the same symbols as Jikiden.” Almost, but not exactly. Western Reiki omits Raku and sometimes modifies the drawings. The meanings are similar, but the context differs.
“Attunements are necessary to practice reiki.” Jikiden Reiki uses reiju, which is gentler and often repeated. The idea that a single attunement permanently opens the channels is a Western innovation. In Japan, reiju is given at each level and can be received multiple times.
“You cannot learn both.” Many practitioners study both lineages. The challenge is reconciling the different hand positions and philosophies. But the energy does not conflict.
FAQ
Can I practice Jikiden Reiki if I already have a Western Reiki attunement?
Yes. You may need to unlearn some habits, but the energy is already there. Many teachers offer Jikiden Reiki classes for experienced practitioners.
Which style is more effective for healing?
Effectiveness depends on the practitioner, not the lineage. Jikiden’s fixed positions are helpful for beginners; Western’s intuitive approach suits others. Both work.
Do the symbols have to be kept secret?
No. Jikiden Reiki teaches them openly. The secrecy in Western Reiki was a cultural choice, not a requirement of the system.
Are the hand positions the same?
No. Jikiden uses a fixed sequence from Hayashi’s clinic. Western Reiki often uses fewer positions and encourages intuition.
Closing
The split between Jikiden and Western Reiki is a story of how a practice adapts when it crosses oceans. Neither lineage owns the truth. Both offer access to the same current. If you want to explore the original Japanese methods, start with our guide to Jikiden Reiki. For the broader context of energy healing, see our Reiki hub. And if you need a refresher on the symbols, our glossary entry on reiki symbols covers each one in detail.