Reiki
Where Did Reiki Come From? The Story of Mikao Usui
Reiki comes from Mikao Usui, who taught it in Japan in the 1920s, and reached the West through his student’s student, Hawayo Takata. Much of what is told about Usui comes from the inscription on his memorial stone; some popular additions to the story, such as a doctorate from the University of Chicago, have no supporting evidence.
Who was Mikao Usui?
According to his memorial stone, as summarized in the Wikipedia article on Mikao Usui, he was born in 1865, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month by the Japanese calendar of the time, in the village of Taniai, in the Yamagata district of Gifu Prefecture, near present-day Nagoya. His family’s ancestors were members of the Chiba clan. The inscription was composed by Okada Masayuki in 1927, the year after Usui’s death.
How did Reiki begin?
The traditional account centers on Mount Kurama. During the early 1920s, Usui did a 21-day practice of prayer and fasting there, and the Wikipedia article notes that common belief holds this is when he developed Reiki. Sources disagree on timing: the Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology places his creation of Reiki in 1914.
In April 1922, according to the memorial stone, Usui settled in Harajuku, Tokyo, and set up a society, the Gakkai, to teach Reiki and give treatments. The inscription says he taught more than 2,000 people. While traveling to Fukuyama to teach, he had a stroke and died on 9 March 1926.
How did Reiki reach the West?
Through Chujiro Hayashi, one of Usui’s students, and Hawayo Takata, who trained with Hayashi. The Encyclopedia of Occultism and Parapsychology describes Takata as a Japanese-American who traveled to Japan in the mid-1930s seeking help for her failing health. The Wikipedia article on Reiki notes that Takata started the first Reiki clinic in the United States in 1970.
Which parts of the story are disputed?
Two additions in particular:
- The Chicago doctorate. Many stories say Usui earned a doctorate in theology at the University of Chicago. The Usui article states there is no proof he ever attended, let alone received a degree there.
- Christian origins. Takata allegedly added Christian themes to the history of Reiki to make it more appealing in the West, according to the same article.
The religious roots are debated too. Some have suggested Usui’s teachings were an amended form of Shugendo, a Japanese mountain practice combining Shinto and Buddhist rituals.
Three steps for checking a history claim
When you read a story about Reiki’s origins, ask where it comes from: the memorial stone, a later book, or a teacher’s account. Check whether its dates fit the 1922 founding of the Gakkai recorded on the stone and Usui’s death in 1926. And treat colorful details, such as degrees abroad, with caution unless a record backs them up.
This article is general information, not medical or psychological advice; talk with a licensed clinician about your own situation.