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Curing with Kaji: Healing and Esoteric Empowerment in Japan
Open accessAbstract
The Shingon practice of kaji is generally understood to be a mutual empowerment of self and Buddha that occurs in esoteric interpenetration visualizations.This doctrinal definition however, neglects the important role that kaji has historically played as a hands-on healing technique.This paper examines some of the theoretical, practical, and historical dimensions of kaji, while also considering some of the modern-day claims of kaji practitioners and patients in contemporary Japan.Such an investigation not only expands our understanding of Japan's religio-medical history, but also prompts our re-evaluation of the dominant discourses related to Chinese kanpō, Neo-Confucian, and Western European medicine.
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“Doctrinally, kaji rites are understood as the process through which the ritual preceptor (ajari 阿闍梨) is united in meditative absorption (samādhi) with Dainichi, resulting in the acquisition of Dainichi's mental powers.”
From Ox Bezoars and the Materiality of Heian-period Therapeutics (2018) · cites this paper as Winfield 2005
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“The ajari is thus able to channel the power of the Buddha and to transfer it onto material forms for healing and protective purposes.”
From Ox Bezoars and the Materiality of Heian-period Therapeutics (2018) · cites this paper as Winfield 2005
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References 7 · Cited by 23
Research works printed but not linked: 15
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Metadata
- Authors
- Winfield, P. D.
- Affiliations
- Meredith College (US)
- Corresponding author
- Winfield, Pamela D
- ORCID
- Winfield, Pamela D
- Venue
- Japanese Journal of Religious Studies
- Publisher
- Nanzan University
- Published
- 2005-05-01
- ISSN
- 0304-1042 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2315018737
- Cited by
- 23
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2023: 1 · 2022: 10 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 7.22
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-nc
- Locations
- Japanese Journal of Religious Studies (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Religious studies › Indian and Buddhist Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Traditional Chinese Medicine Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › History of Medicine Studies
- Keywords
- Shingon Buddhism, esoteric Buddhism, healing practices, religious healing, history of medicine in Japan, Western medicine
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- Winfield, P. D. (2005). Curing with Kaji: Healing and Esoteric Empowerment in Japan. Japanese Journal of Religious Studies. https://doi.org/10.18874/jjrs.32.1.2005.107-130
