The meaning of the Kanji for Reiki
Reiki is essentially broken down into two parts: "Rei" and "Ki". Rei represents- Universal, Spirit, mystery and gift. And Ki represents Energy, life force, talent and feeling. These two parts combined form the word or ‘Kanji’, which represents universal life force energy. So Reiki is a union with the ‘Universal Spirit’ and your life force energy and in many respects describes what actually occurs when someone is practicing Reiki.

Mikao Usui, the founder of Reiki described the word Reiki as Rei, representing Divine healing energy and Ki, representing life force energy, both of the individual and of the universe.

Rei – Has 24 strokes to the kanji, and consists of 3 parts. The top part represents the descent of rain, or in this case the descent of Universal Healing energy. The middle part represents three open mouths, and bottom represents the recipient of this rain or the worthy aspirant receiving the universal healing energies. If we examine a modern day Japanese dictionary, Rei is defined as: (1) Spirit, the spiritual aspect of the human being as contrasted to the physical. (2) Divine, luminous, charismatic, supernatural, mysterious.


Running Hand Kanji of Reiki Drawn by Venerable Sotetsu Matsumura - Zen Buddhist Monk.

(3) The luminosity of the spirit, the luminosity of a God or Sage. (4) Inconceivable spiritual ability; charismatic power; charisma; wonderful, a wonder. (5) A rainmaker, a diviner; a person or being with spiritual or supernatural powers. (6) A shaman. (7) Goodness; good, excellent, efficacious. (8) Clever, nimble, sharp. (9) Life. (10) A living being, a human being. (11) A supernatural (mythical) beast or being; a fairy, an elf. (12) Pure, undefined, unpolluted. (13) Bright, clear.

Ki – Has 10 strokes to the kanji and consists of the symbols of breath with rice. (Rice in Japan is sometimes used as a synonym for people). Ki, then in this case represents "energy" of beings.

The Japanese dictionary defines Ki as: (1) vital energy connected with the breath. Invisible life force, somewhat equivalent to ‘Prana’. (2) The generative forces of heaven and earth, by means of which all things are constantly reproduced. (3) Air. (4) Breath, steam.

Other similar representations of Ki energy can be found in various cultures. The Chinese call this energy ‘Chi’ or ‘Qi’, the Hindu tradition refer to this energy as ‘Prana’, the Sufi tradition refer to is as ‘Baraka’ while ancient healing traditions of Egypt refer to this energy as ‘Ka’.

Venerable Sotetsu Matsumura - Zen Buddhist Monk.

However, these names only indicate the energy of Ki and do not refer to the whole experience that is Reiki, being the union of Universe and humankind.

In China, another word, which bears a similar expression, is ‘Ling Qi’. In China, ‘Ling’, refers to the animating force or power of the universe and Qi, the medium for its manifestation in the physical plane. As Japan inherited the Chinese characters for its use of language, the thread of meaning in these forms is present to some extent however one often requires a sound understanding of the old style kanji to find this relationship.

If we were to describe Reiki with its spiritual meaning, the characters form the following picture: Upon the earth stands a human being, with arms raised to the heavens. From the heavens rain descends, bringing the healing energies of the Universe and bestowing this blessing upon the being. This being is now a conduit or channel, bestowing the life giving energy to all humanity.

In this way, the kanji of Reiki reveals much about our relationship to Reiki. It is a picture, which tells of our union between our own energy and the energy of the universe.