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Aikido: 合氣道 or 合気道?
To determine whether Aikido should be written as 合氣道 or 合気道, it is essential to understand the history and differences between the kanji 氣 (Ki) and 気 (Ki). The character 氣 is the original kanji from China, while 気 is the simplified Japanese version. 氣 (Qi in Chinese) is composed of the radicals 气 and 米. 气 (Qi) is the original form of 氣, pictogram appears in Jiaguwen 甲骨文 (script inscribed on animal bones and tortoise shells) for cloud vapor or moving gas, also representing inhaling and exhaling breath. 米 is rice. The earliest recorded use of 氣 dates back to 25-220 AD, initially associated with food, due to rice…
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Kotodama: The Spiritual Power of Words in Japanese Culture and Aikido
Kotodama 言霊 is closely connected with the life and teachings of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. Ueshiba was a deeply spiritual person who drew inspiration from the religious and philosophical traditions of Shinto 神道. Kotodama is a fundamental aspect of Shinto, an indigenous religion of Japan that has been integrated into various Japanese arts and practices, such as martial arts, traditional medicine, and music. Koto 言 means “word,” and dama 霊 means “spirit.” The term can be translated as “the spirit of words.” In kotodama practice, it is believed that each word and sound vibration has its own unique spiritual energy and power. One of the key principles of…
