A student in Kyoto in 1926 learned a set of hand positions and three symbols. That transmission happened without ceremony, without certificates, and without the elaborate attunement rituals Western Reiki later made famous. Jikiden Reiki is a direct lineage of Reiki that preserves the original Japanese teachings of Chujiro Hayashi, taught without the modifications introduced by Hawayo Takata to the West. The core difference is that Jikiden Reiki uses a hands-on transmission known as reiju (not a multi-step attunement) and limits its symbols to three: Cho Ku Rei, Sei He Ki, and Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen.
That history explains why the two streams of Reiki feel so different today. What follows is how they diverged, what each preserves, and what the practitioner actually does.
Where Did Jikiden Reiki Come From?
Mikao Usui developed the system we now call Reiki in the early 1920s after a 21-day fast on Mount Kurama. He opened a clinic in Tokyo in 1922 and began teaching a small circle of students. One of those students was Chujiro Hayashi, a retired naval officer who received Shihan (teacher) level in 1925.
Hayashi later opened his own clinic in Tokyo and refined Usui’s hand positions into a systematic protocol. He kept detailed records of each position and its effects. In 1935, Hawayo Takata, a Japanese-American woman, visited Hayashi’s clinic for treatment of a severe illness and later became a student, receiving Shihan in 1938.
Takata brought Reiki to Hawaii and then to the mainland United States. She adapted the teachings for a Western audience: she raised the fees dramatically, added a formal attunement ceremony with five hand placements and symbol placements, introduced the idea of a master-level “Reiki Master,” and expanded the symbol set to include Dai Ko Myo and Raku. She also stopped teaching the Byosen scanning technique and the meditative practice of Reiji-ho.
Meanwhile, in Japan, a quiet lineage continued through Hayashi’s direct students, including Chiyoko Yamaguchi and her son Toshitaka Murai. They maintained the original three-symbol system, the hands-on transmission, and the practice of scanning with the hands before treatment. In 1999, Frank Arjava Petter and others began bringing this Japanese lineage to the West, calling it Jikiden Reiki (直伝, meaning “direct transmission”). The Yamaguchi family opened the Jikiden Reiki Institute in Kyoto, which certifies teachers worldwide.
What Symbols Do Jikiden Reiki Practitioners Use?
The symbol set is the most visible difference. Western Reiki typically teaches five symbols:
- Cho Ku Rei (power symbol)
- Sei He Ki (mental-emotional symbol)
- Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen (distance symbol)
- Dai Ko Myo (master symbol)
- Raku (completion symbol)
Jikiden Reiki teaches only the first three. Dai Ko Myo and Raku are not part of the original Hayashi transmission. Takata introduced them as part of the master-level curriculum, likely adapting them from other Japanese esoteric traditions or creating them herself. Sources disagree on whether Usui himself ever used these two symbols. The Jikiden position is clear: they are not in the direct lineage and are therefore not taught.
The three symbols in Jikiden are used exactly as Usui and Hayashi taught them. Cho Ku Rei is drawn to open and close a treatment. Sei He Ki cleanses mental and emotional blockages. Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen handles distance healing across time and space. In Jikiden, these symbols are not physically drawn in the air; they are traced with the palm of the hand or visualized. The practitioner learns them through direct copying under a teacher’s supervision.
How Is a Jikiden Reiki Treatment Performed?
The treatment itself looks similar to Western Reiki at first glance: hands are placed on or above the body in a sequence of positions. But the approach differs in three concrete ways.
Byosen scanning. Before any treatment, the practitioner runs their hands over the client’s body without touching it, feeling for heat, cold, tingling, or a pulling sensation. That spot indicates a Byosen (病気線, “illness line”) – a stagnated area that needs attention. The practitioner then holds that position until the sensation equalizes, often several minutes. Western Reiki typically uses fixed hand positions regardless of sensation.
Reiji-ho. This is a meditative practice where the practitioner sits with hands in prayer position and asks for guidance on where to place their hands. It is not a decision made by the rational mind. In Western Reiki, this practice is rarely taught.
No distance symbol in the air. In Jikiden, the Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen symbol is drawn in the air over the client’s body to initiate a distance treatment. Western Reiki often has practitioners draw it on themselves or on a surrogate object.
The treatment room is quiet. No music, no stones, no incense required. The practitioner’s intention is to be a channel, not a healer. As the Jikiden Reiki Institute puts it: “We do not heal. The Reiki heals.”
What Is the Attunement Like in Jikiden Reiki?
This is where the two systems diverge most dramatically.
In Western Reiki, the attunement (often called Reiju or the reiki ceremony) is a ritual lasting twenty to forty minutes. The Master uses specific symbols, blowing on the crown, back, and solar plexus of the student, drawing symbols in the air, and placing hands on the head, back, and feet. It is understood to open the student’s energy channels permanently.
In Jikiden Reiki, the transmission is called Reiju (霊授, “spiritual blessing”). It is a brief (one to three minute) process where the teacher holds their hands over the student’s head and says a short prayer in Japanese. There are no symbols drawn, no blowing, no elaborate ritual. The teacher simply connects the student to the Reiki source. The student does not need to believe or visualize anything. The transmission is considered complete by the teacher’s intent alone.
Jikiden teachers hold that the elaborate Western attunement was Takata’s innovation to make the training feel “special” and justify the higher fees. The Japanese perspective is that the Reiju is a direct gift from teacher to student, inherited from a lineage that goes back to Usui.
Can You Practice Both Jikiden and Western Reiki?
Yes, many practitioners do. But the two systems have different protocols and philosophies, so mixing them mid-treatment can confuse the practitioner and the client. A common approach is to choose one primary system and treat the other as supplementary knowledge.
Some Western-trained Reiki Masters find that Jikiden’s emphasis on Byosen scanning and Reiji-ho deepens their practice without abandoning the attunements they already received. Conversely, some Jikiden practitioners incorporate the Western symbols as additional tools, though traditional teachers discourage this.
The Jikiden Reiki Institute does not require students to renounce previous training. They simply ask that during a Jikiden treatment you follow the Jikiden method.
Common Misconceptions
“Jikiden Reiki is the only authentic Reiki.” This is not true. Both lineages trace back to Usui. The Western lineage is a modified but valid branch. Jikiden teachers themselves acknowledge that Takata’s transmission worked for thousands of students.
“Western Reiki is watered down.” It is different, not diminished. Western Reiki developed its own strengths: a more accessible teaching structure, a global community, and a visible attunement experience that many find powerful.
“Usui taught two systems.” Most historians agree that Usui taught one system to everyone. The differences emerged through Hayashi’s refinement and Takata’s adaptations.
“You cannot learn Jikiden Reiki without traveling to Japan.” The Jikiden Reiki Institute certifies teachers worldwide. Many seminars are now held in Europe, North America, and Australia. The direct transmission can happen anywhere.
FAQ
Do Jikiden Reiki practitioners use distance healing? Yes. The Hon Sha Ze Sho Nen symbol allows distance healing in both Jikiden and Western Reiki. Jikiden practitioners draw it over the client’s body image or a surrogate object.
Can I become a Reiki Master with Jikiden Reiki? The Jikiden Reiki Institute uses the term Shihan (teacher) instead of Master. The training takes about two years of consistent practice and multiple levels.
Is Jikiden Reiki more expensive than Western Reiki? Fees vary widely. Historically, Jikiden training was less expensive because there was no elaborate attunement ceremony to justify higher costs. However, modern teachers set their own rates.
Do I need to speak Japanese to learn Jikiden Reiki? No. The teachings are in English (or the local language) with Japanese terms explained. The transmission is nonverbal.
The fire is not decoration. It is the altar.
Continue Exploring
The road between Japan and the West runs both ways. If Jikiden Reiki’s emphasis on direct transmission and hands-on practice speaks to you, we invite you to read our guide on Reiki energy and the history of Reiki symbols. For those drawn to the Western tradition, our article on how to choose a Reiki level covers the attunement process in detail.