IrezumiEmpire - Articles

The Nine Hand Seals

2020-12-17T22:23:12-08:00

Kuji-in, 九字印 known as Nine Hand Seals is a system of mudras and associated mantras consisting of 9 syllables. The mantras are referred to as Kuji 九字, meaning nine characters.

It is believed that the kuji arrived in Japan through Jōdo-shū and Shugendō around the 8th century. Kuji is rumored to be a dangerous ritual that is, if made without proper initiation or performed incorrectly, can attract unwanted entities.

Importance of the Number Nine

Why the number nine is used is because in Taoist divination, the number nine is seen as the perfect number for Yang/yo when determining the individual hexagram lines. Others suggest that the nine represents the nine planets that the Taoist believe directly influence human destiny.

Hand Seal of the Nine Syllables

The Kujin “Nine Hand Seals” refers to the mudra or hand gestures associated with the nine syllables themselves. This is a specialized form of Buddihst meditation.

Kuji-Kiri, 九字切り or the nine symbolic cuts is the practice of using hand gestures, it is also seen in some Japanese martial ars such as Ninjutsu.

The Nine Cuts

(臨) Rin – Power

(兵) Hyo/Pyo – Energy

(闘) Toh – Harmony

(者) Sha – Healing

(皆) Kai – Intuition

(陣) Jin – Awareness

(列) Retsu – Dimension

(在) Zai – Creation

(前) Zen – Absolute

Symbolism

Kuji-kiri performed with your right hand are to emphasize the cut of the ignorance of the illusion. With the left hand, it represents a receptive valence. Both hands can represent the Yin and Yang, creating an opening in the daily world that allows one to reach various states of consciousness.

Mystical Properties

It is believed that the practice of Kuji-kiri gives mystical attributes, when performed with a hand of hand seals, was meant to allow a ninja to develop superhuman features. Forming the symbols with one’s hands, the ninja may mutter some words and, in an instant, he becomes calm but eerily alert.

These mystical powers are:

Predicting Danger

Hearing Thoughts

Healing abilities

Invisibility

Does Kuji-Kiri really give mystical powers?

There is actually no proof of people gaining mystical powers or healing powers. However, it triggers a specific mental state for a shinobi. This optimal state of mind helps him function well under stress. It may also create the ideal conditions for his body to recover a tad faster.

There are similarities between Kuji and other practices. And, they all seem to rely on proven meditative elements to change a person’s mental state.

This makes meditation useful for modern-day warriors like yourself. But, for something that’s quick-to-use (when in danger), ninja hand signs and NLP anchoring is the way to go. Of course, that needs tons of practice! To note, ninja hand signs don't even give you any mystical powers. So, don’t walk around the streets naked.

Where to buy the Kuji Ninja Bracelet?

There are tons of places where you can buy the kuji bracelet in Japan. But if you’re outside of Japan, you may find these Kuji Ninja Bracelet difficult to find or too expensive.

However, when you visit our store, Irezumi Empire - you may find that these masks are inexpensive and come in different varieties, such as, Red Agate, Onyx and natural stones. All of our Bracelets are well priced and made from premium quality materials, this is to ensure that our interested customers can afford and enjoy them.

Story Behind The Kitsune Mask

2020-12-09T19:05:30-08:00

Kitsune 狐

きつね

Kitsune, or Foxes are found almost everywhere in Japan. They are similar to wild foxes found elsewhere outside Japan apart from their mysterious magical powers. Their cute faces and tiny size makes them loved by most people around the world.

Kitsune are overly intelligent and strong shape-shifters. They often harass humans by shape-shifting into giants or other scary monsters. They do this to play a prank, and sometimes they do it with wicked intent. They are masters of shape-shifting, skilled enough to transform into the exact copy of the individual, they often transform into a beautiful woman so that they can trick young men and achieve their goals.

Some Kitsune even spend all of their lives in human form, adopting human names, traditions, customs, and even raising a family. When drunk or startled, a bit of their magic can fail - its true nature may appear by a tail, a fur or any particular feature.

Types of Kitsune

There are two types of Kitsune. Holy and Wild Kitsune - The former are guardians of the Shinto Deity Inari. That’s why the Inari Shrines are decorated with Kitsune statues. One legend tells of a Kitsune providing wisdom and service to good and pious humans, they act as messengers of the Gods and mediums between humans and mystics. The Latter are beings of mischief, whimsical and evil. There are numerous folklore that tells how some kitsune disguise themselves as humans and cause strange behaviors or unwanted acts of evil.

Legend says that most Kitsune punish wicked people by creating phantom sounds and sights and humiliate them in public. They may even cause fires and strange lights in the sky through their magic.

Kitsune Mask is one of the traditional Japanese masks used in festivals. One example is the Oji’s Fox Parade. According to old legends, before there was even a city where Tokyo now stands, Kitsune from all over Japan would gather under a large tree on New Year’s Eve. These kitsune disguised as humans then visited the Oji shrine dedicated to Inari.

Kitsune Mask on Fashion

On top of being used more often during festivals. The Kitsune masks are appealing, cute, and look funny, thus Japanese folklore and fashion have always gone hand-in-hand in the world of streetwear. This comes as no surprise, given the creative nature, eccentricity and ability to show one’s personality and cultural affinity through both mediums. And for that reason, a lot of people like to buy and wear kitsune masks for fun. But this is only one reason, there are several other reasons that make kitsune masks so popular in terms of fashion.

Are the Masks for Japanese only?

You may come across this question as to not offend other cultures when it comes to fashion. The answer is NO. There is no strict rule for wearing Kitsune masks. In Japan, they are worn during festivals and people who are not Japanese are allowed to wear such masks and attend the said festivals. These festivals are for fun, and the purpose of wearing the kitsune mask during these festivals is for fun. For these reasons, anyone can buy a kitsune mask and wear it for fun or for other purposes.

Where to buy the Kitsune Mask?

There are tons of places where you can buy the mask in Japan. But if you’re outside of Japan, you may find these Kitsune masks difficult to find or too expensive. However, when you visit our store, Irezumi Empire - you may find that these masks are inexpensive and come in different varieties, from kimonos to different types of kitsune masks such as, half and full face masks. All of our masks are well priced and made from premium quality resin, this is to ensure that our interested customers can afford and enjoy them.

The Japanese Tiger Symbol and its Meaning

2020-09-01T03:52:00-07:00

TORA! TORA! TORA!

虎 "Tora" is the Japanese word for tiger, originated from southern China, deriving from the word "taira". Although, they have never lived in the wilds within Japan, they have been long known and so highly esteemed and feared among the Japanese as shown from arts, stories and skins.

One story commonly told today coined the phrase - FURUYA NO MORU WA TORA O-KAMI YORI MO OSOROSHII ( 古屋の漏るは虎狼よりも恐ろしい) meaning, a leaky roof is more terrible than a tiger, showing how feared tigers are, they have been the standard of fear, awe, or scariness.

Tora or Tigers in Japan also symbolizes protection against evil and bad energies. Some temples in Kyoto, Japan design their gardens with guardian tigers instead of the usual guardian lions.

Tora is regarded as a protective creature, who roars like thunder, scaring away demons and spirits. They are depicted as “noble subjects” and often used as a symbol for the first rank of a military official.

Tigers in Early Japanese Arts

Although not native to the islands of Japan, tigers have been frequently depicted in Japanese arts. Mostly by Samurai warriors in the Medieval and Modern Period (14C to 19C) loves to collect paintings of Tigers that depict tigers. For Samurai warriors, tiger for them symbolizes strength in which they highly value.

Many Japanese artists studied tiger painting and have tried to make their own art even though they have never seen a real one before. There is not a single tiger in Japan, and no one dared to bring one out of fear and danger. Instead, the Japanese modeled cats as the closest alternative.

If you ever wondered why Japanese paintings of tigers are cuter and stiff compared to Chinese paintings of tigers, that is because nobody has seen one before. Artifacts of Japanese tiger arts look more like a mere cat that failed to become a tiger.

Japanese Tigers on Ink

Tora has been immortalized in many different ways in Japan. More particularly through irezumi or Japanese style tattoos. Some do it for symbolic reasons, respect for the creature or just personal style.

The Tora tattoo has been a symbol for a number of strong emotional meanings. It can symbolize Courage, Ferocity, Passion, Power, Strength or Violence. The perception has been guided by certain Asian cultures, primarily in the Zodiac Calendar.

Tora tattoos are a matter of personal representation and not a public opinion. Consent from any other person should be absent as these art are a symbol of personal perspective and style. No one should tell you that you can’t get a tiger tattoo.

In modern spirituality, Tora is depicted as a symbol of courage and personal strength. It is commonly used as a tattoo design that symbolizes one that has faced himself, in terms of identity and emotions.

Are you ready to wear your own power? Go over to irezumi Empire and see which one speaks to you the most!

The Meaning Behind the Hannya Mask

2020-08-10T22:29:00-07:00

The first thing most people would notice when they see a Hannya mask (般若) is the widely stretched, upturned mouth and the frighteningly long fangs that point in outward directions. The eyes of the Hannya mask are large and expressive - hinting a multitude of emotions such as anger, pain, jealousy, and sadness.

The Hannya mask has become a cliché symbol in Noh theatrical plays and is therefore extremely hard to use without a considerable dose of irony within the framework of parody. The Hannya mask is not only threatening in appearance; it is also melancholic in character, where the drooping eyebrows show sorrow and suffering mingled with the lust for revenge.

The meaning behind the mask can take on a variety of forms when portrayed by Irezumi (Japanese style tattoo) artists. Irezumi artist would deviate from the traditional colors of white, red, and dark red to some blues, greens, and yellows; sometimes incorporating various hues and tones.

It doesn't stop there. Today, Irezumi-inspired shops such as Irezumi Empire, showcase different merchandise portraying the Hannya on a modern twist. Other components are incorporated such as flowers, tidal waves, cherry blossoms, snakes, leaves, koi, and dragons; just to name a few.

But what truly is the meaning behind the mask? For us to get an answer to that question, we are going to look into the history and origin of the Hannya mask.

Shop related masks: Browse The Hannya Mask, explore the Japanese mask collection, or see options in the Halloween masks collection.

The Origin of the word Hannya

The exact origin of the Hannya mask has been much debated. The name Hannya (般若) is a Sino-Japanese word for "wisdom" or Prajñā, the Japanese version of the Sanskrit for "wisdom".

In Japanese tradition, the Noh Mask was given the name Hannya as it was the name of the artist monk Hannya-bō (般若坊), who have mastered the creation of such mask. Some say that the artist who would carve the Hannya mask would need an ample amount of wisdom to create such a mask.

Hannya Mask in Traditional Japanese Theatre

The Hannya Mask is one of the most iconic Noh masks used in Japanese traditional theater. It depicts an envious female demon with two devil horns, piercing metallic eyes, and leering teeth. It is not a symbol or an abstraction of jealousy; it is a physical transformation of a jealous woman or of a spirit that has momentarily left the body and taken another form.

The Process of making a Hannya mask

If you're curious as to how the Hannya mask or Noh masks are made traditionally, there are 6 basic stages of making the Hannya mask:

Sawing and rough carving
Fine carving
Treatment of the back
Basic painting and smoothening
Painting features, and
Finishing

Some might add a final stage: aging. They say that leaving a newly finished Hannya mask for some time before using it lets the expression settle...

For the First Stage, the mask maker starts with a single rectangular piece of wood, marking the middle of the wood and outlining the face. He then carves the wood with a hammer and chisel until the mask begins to take form.