Aug 15
1865 |
|
Mikao Usui born in the village of Taniai, Gifu
Prefecture, Japan. |
| Apr 25, 1867 |
|
Tokyo opened for foreign trade |
| 1867 |
|
Ryoma Sakamoto, a Samurai, helped topple the
feudal government system. The Tokugawa Shogunate gave up power.
|
| 1868 |
|
Beginning of Meiji period |
| 1869 |
|
Emperor relocated Japan's Capital from Kyoto
to Edo, renamed Tokyo ("Eastern Capital") |
| 1869 |
|
Mikao Usui believed to have been sent to a
Tendai Monastery School |
Feb 3
1870 |
|
Proclamation of the Great Doctrine which
restored Shinto - also known as: Kami no Michi ('the Way of
the Kami') as the guiding principle of the nation. Every Japanese
citizen required to register at the Shrine of the local Kami of his
residence - i.e. the local Shinto Temple (not at Buddhist Temples,
as is mistakenly stated by several Reiki researchers) |
|
Jun 27
1871 |
|
The Yen became the new form of currency in
Japan. |
| 1871 |
|
Samurai class banned from carrying
swords |
| 1873 |
|
Centuries-old ban on Christianity lifted, and
compulsory registration at local Shinto shrines was terminated after
vigorous criticism from many |
| 1877 |
|
Last Revolt by the Samurai class is
quelled |
| 1877/78 |
|
At the age of 12 Usui-Sensei began martial
arts training. He studied either 'Yagyu Ryu' or 'Yagyu Shinkage Ryu'
- martial arts incorporating (swordsmanship) and Ju-jutsu (unarmed
combat). He would go on to attain the level of 'Menkyo Kaiden' in
his 20s, this being the highest licence of proficiency in the
art. |
| 1878 (/89?) |
|
Chujiro Hayashi born |
| 1882 |
|
The central Bank of Japan was established.
|
| Apr 4, 1884 |
|
Isoroku Yamamoto was born. As a Japanese Naval
Commander, he would go on to mastermind the attack on Pearl Harbour.
|
| Feb 9, 1885 |
|
The first Japanese arrived in Hawaii.
|
| 1888-92 |
|
It had been claimed by some that during this
period (- apparently as a result of a Cholera-induced, profound
near-death experience in which he is said to have received visions
of Mahavairochana Buddha) Usui-Sensei converted from Tendai to the
other Major Branch of Japanese Mikkyo (Esoteric) Buddhism - the
Shingon school [ - however, the source of this information has
recently been exposed as having fabricated a considerable amount of
supposed 'original' Reiki information and documents. It is generally
asserted that Usui Sensei remained Tendai until the end of his
life] |
| Jul 23, 1894 |
|
Japanese troops took over the Korean imperial
palace in Seoul. |
| 1894/5 |
|
Sino-Japanese War |
| Apr 23, 1895 |
|
Russia, France, and Germany forced Japan to
return the Liaodong peninsula to China. |
| 1899 |
|
A statute was passed that discriminated
against the northern Ainu people. |
Dec 25
1900 |
|
Hawayo Kawamuru (later: Takata) born in
Hanamaulu, Kauai, Hawaii. |
| Apr 29, 1901 |
|
Hirohito, future Emperor of Japan,
born. |
Mar
1902 |
|
Japan formed an alliance with England.
|
| Dec 1902. |
|
Chujiro Hayashi graduated
Navy School |
| 1904/5 |
|
Russo-Japanese War |
| 190? |
|
Mikao Usui married
Sadako Suzuki |
| Feb 24, 1908 |
|
Japan officially agreed to restrict
immigration to the U.S. |
| 1908 |
|
Usui-Sensei's son, Fuji (1908-1946)
born |
| 1910 |
|
Japan officially annexed Korea. |
| 1911 |
|
Seitosha - first Japanese feminist group
founded in this year |
| 1912 |
|
Death of the Emperor Meiji. Prince Yoshihito
became Emperor Taisho |
| 1913 |
|
Usui-Sensei's daughter, Toshiko (1913-1935)
born |
March,
1914 |
|
A book entitled Kenzon no Gebri (Health
Principles), written by a Dr. Bizan Suzuki, includes the
admonition:
"Just for today, do not anger, do not fear, be
honest, work hard, and be kind to others."
This is almost
certainly the direct source of Usui Sensei's Five Reiki
Principles. |
Aug 23
1914 |
|
Japan joined the Allied side in World War I,
declaring war on Germany |
| 1914 |
|
Possible date when Usui-Sensei received the
Reiki ability??. This is apparently the date given in 2 different
Japanese Books on Reiki?? |
| 1915 |
|
A Tendai Buddhist nun referred to as: 'Suzuki
San', becomes one of Usui Sensei's student, remaining with him until
1920 |
| Jan, 1915 |
|
Japan claimed economic control of
China |
| 1915 |
|
Tamai Tempaku, a practitioner of the ancient
art of Ampuku (abdominal massage) and student of Chinese acupoint
therapy, published the first book describing his newly developed
therapeutic modality, which he named 'Shiatsu'.
In the volume
entitled: Shiatsu Ryoho (“Finger Pressure Method of Healing”) Tamai
described the treatment of pathological conditions identified by
modern Western medicine using his Shiatsu Ryoho which integrated
traditional therapies, spiritual wisdom, and western models of
anatomy and physiology. |
| 1917 |
|
Hawayo Kawamuru and Saichi Takata
married |
| 1918 |
|
Japan's first Parliamentary Cabinet
formed. |
| 1918/9 |
|
Usui-Sensei said to have begun 3 year training
in Zen. |
| 1920 |
|
Mariko-Obaasan (- a Tendai Buddhist Nun) and
her friend met Usui-Sensei on Mt. Hiei (Headquarters of the Tendai
sect). She would spend almost every day from then on working with
him, up to the time of his death |
| 1920/21 |
|
Toshihiro Eguchi, a friend of Usui-Sensei
spent several months working and studying with
Usui-Sensei |
| 1921 |
|
Usui-Sensei believed to have begun working as
secretary to Pei Gotoushin, head of the Department of Health and
Welfare, who would later (1922) become the Mayor of
Tokyo. |
| Nov 25, 1921 |
|
Hirohito became Regent of Japan. |
| March 1922 |
|
Possible date when Usui-Sensei received the
Reiki ability??
Kurama Yama (Mt Kurama), about a 20 minute train
ride from the old capital of Kyoto, is said to be the mountain in
where Mikao Usui carried out his 21-day meditation, and on the 21st
day experienced the phenomenon that is Reiki.
[However, others have previously suggested that it was in fact
Koya Yama (Mt Koya) and not Kurama Yama which was the
place.]
Whatever the case, prior to this date, Usui-Sensei is
said to have been practicing and teaching his own personal system of
self -development involving teachings which, while Buddhist in
origin, included some Shinto energy practices. Apparently he did not
really have a name for the system -though it is referred to by some
as:
'Usui Do' - 'Usui Way' |
| April 1922 |
|
Usui-Sensei opened his first training centre
(some call it a "clinic") in Harajuku, Aoyama, Tokyo.
His
'motto' for the training centre was:
"Unity of self through
harmony and balance".
It is also claimed by some that Usui-Sensei
founded Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (Usui Reiki Healing Method Learning
Society) at this time, though others maintain that the Gakkai was
actually founded by some of his senior students sometime
after Usui-Sensei's death. |
| 1922 |
|
Usui-Sensei supposed to have used the Reiju
empowerment method for the first time in Harajuku,
Tokyo. |
| 1923 |
|
Usui-Sensei said to have introduced a grading
system used by Jigoro Kano (creator of Judo). Thus the levels in the
original Usui-Do system became:
Rokyu, Gokyu, Yankyu, Sankyu,
Nikkyu (CKR symbol taught at this level), Ikkyu (SHK symbol ),
Shodan (HSZSN symbol), Nidan (DKM symbol), Sandan, Yondan, Godan,
Rokudan, Shichidan (/Nanadan).
This format was in use up until
late 1925 |
| 1923 |
|
Toshihiro Eguchi returned to the training
centre to practice his own te-no-hira (palm healing) system which
apparently incorporated elements of Usui-sensei's teachings.
Eguchi's system has religious overtones and included a form of
blessing ceremony that Eguchi had learned from a friend named
Nishida.
Usui-Sensei, it seems, was some uncomfortable with
Eguchi's approach but eventually permitted Eguchi to teach at the
centre on a twice-weekly basis. He was allowed to perform the
blessing ceremony, but apparently not allowed to chant a prayer
element known as the Komyo Kigan . Eguchi even had a small
book printed which discussed healing methods and related techniques,
and went on to found his own school: Eguchi Tenohira Ryoji
Kenkyu-kai |
| 1923 |
|
Torii gate at entrance to Amataka shrine in
Taniai village erected by Usui-Sensei and his family. |
| 1923 |
|
Over 106,000 people reported missing or
killed, 500,000 injured and 694,000 houses were destroyed, in an
earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale - the epicentre was
about 50 miles from Tokyo. Usui-Sensei apparently became quite
famous as a result of helping many of the survivors, and his success
and reputation with Reiki is said to have spread all over Japan.
|
Feb
1924 |
|
Usui-Sensei moved his Centre to larger
premises in Nakano, outside of Tokyo. |
| Jun 26, 1924 |
|
Crown Prince Hirohito married the daughter of
Prince Kuniyoshi Kuni, Nagako |
| 1924 |
|
U.S. passed an Immigration Act banning
Japanese from emigrating to the U.S. |
March
1925 |
|
Males over the age of 25 were given the
vote |
| May 1925 |
|
A further group of Tendai nuns arrived at the
Training Centre (staying until the November of that
year). |
| May 1925 |
|
Chujiro Hayashi arrived at the training
centre |
June
1925
|
|
Chujiro Hayashi received Sandan(?) training
from Usui-Sensei |
Nov
1925 |
|
18 junior Naval Officers and the Rear
Admirals: Juusaburo Gyuda (also known as Ushida) and Kanichi
Taketomi (-these latter two are believed to have been the actual
founders of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai -) joined Usui Sensei's
classes.
At this point there was a sudden shift in the nature and
structure of the training given at the centre, and as a result of
the Rear Admirals' influence, a significantly different system of
energywork began to emerge alongside Usui-Do - with a focus on
working on others rather than on oneself.
This system apparently
included Eguchi's hand healing concepts and blessing ceremony, and
was being referred to as: 'Usui Reiki Ryoho' by the Naval Officers,
who also produced a healing guide (compiled by Hayashi-Sensei) and
began utilising several Ki Ko (Qi Gung) techniques from Eguchi's
book.
A new grading system came into use - grades above Nidan
were dropped - and four new levels introduced, called: Shoden (first
grade), Chuuden (middle grade), Okuden (inner grade) and Kaiden
(grade of explanation)
It is also possible that it may have been
under the influence of the Naval Officers that the Gyosei (: poems
penned by the Meiji Emperor) began to be used at the start of the
meetings |
| 1925/26 |
|
Kaiji Tomita learned Reiki around this period, and later
taught Reiki in the 4-level format introduced by the Naval Officers.
Apparently, his classes for the first three levels: Shoden,
Chuuden and Okuden, each involved a 10-hour period of training over
5 days, and Kaiden involved 15 days training (presumably 30
hours).
After Usui-Sensei's death, Tomita went on to establish
the 'Tomita Teate Ryohokai' (Tomita Hand-Healing Centre); and also
to write a book: Reiki To Jinjutsu – Tomita Ryu Teate Ryoho (Reiki
& Humanitarian Work - Tomita Ryu Hands Healing) in 1933/4.
[One of Tomita's students: Asuke-san, also went on to found his
own Healing Society] |
| Jan 1926 |
|
The grading levels were changed once more to:
Shoden (which now included Chuuden, and had four sub-levels),
Okudenzenki (previously: Okuden), Okudenkouki and Shinpiden (the
latter two covering what had formerly been taught as Kaiden), with
the Shinpiden level having almost the same content as the Sandan
level in the grading system originally used by Usui-Sensei.
It is
said that Gyuda and Taketomi reached the Shinpiden level with much
celebration, however Hayashi-Sensei had continued his training and,
unbeknown to the other Naval personnel, was awarded the original
grading system level of Shichidan.
The only other person to reach
this level was Toshihiro Eguchi and it is said that both Eguchi and
Hayashi-Sensei continued teaching the original Usui-Do system along
with their own healing systems for several years after Usui-Sensei's
death. |
March 9
1926 |
|
Usui-Sensei travelled to Fukuyama town to meet
with his creditors, and died there, age 62, as a result of a stroke
(he had apparently had several previous ones) |
| |
|
* *
*
|
| 1926 |
|
Mariko-Obaasan and her friend remained at the
training centre for some months after Usui-Sensei's death, then
left.
Apparently, while they were still there, some of
Usui-Sensei's remains were placed in a private shrine along with a
large portrait photograph of him and the original copy of the 5
Precepts that had hung in the training centre. |
| 1926 |
|
A few months after Usui-Sensei's death,
Hayashi-Sensei (with the cooperation and assistance of Ushida and
Taketomi) is believed to have moved Usui-Sensei's training centre to
the Shinano Machi district (where apparently his own clinic
was) |
| Dec 25, 1926 |
|
Hirohito became the Emperor Showa. However, he
would not be formally enthroned for almost another two
years |
| 1926/27 |
|
According to some, Rear Admiral Juusaburo
Gyuda and other students formed the "Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai" (Usui
Reiki Healing Method Learning Society[/Association])"', posthumously
honouring Usui-Sensei by naming him as the first 'president' of the
society. |
|
Feb
1927 |
|
Usui-Sensei's students said to have erected
the memorial to his memory which now stands in a graveyard at the
Saihoji temple, Tokyo, and which mentions Mount Kurama as the site
of Usui-Sensei's receipt of the Reiki phenomenon. |
March
1927 |
|
A family tomb (containing some of
Usui-Sensei's remains) was erected on the same plot as the memorial
by Fuji Usui. |
| 1927 |
|
A woman named Chio Uno (1898-1996) scandalized
Japanese society by cutting her hair short! |
| 1928 |
|
Article about Reiki by Shouoh Matsui (a student
of Chujiro Hayashi ) appears in a Japanese magazine: 'The Sunday
Mainichi' |
| 1930 |
|
Hayashi-Sensei had begun to restructure his
own system, referred to as: Hayashi Reiki Ryoho Kenkyukai -
something which would in time evolve into the therapeutic modality
learned by Takata-Sensei between 1935 and 1938, and later presented
by her as 'Usui Shiki Ryoho'. |
| 1931 |
|
Hayashi-Sensei left the Gakkai. By this time
he apparently stopped teaching the original Usui-Do system, although
he had conferred Shichidan status on a Mr Tatsumi and at least 11
other students.
Eguchi had also left the Gakkai by this time
(some suggest he had joined the Gakkai for a year out of respect to
Usui, but left because he was unhappy with the ultra-nationalistic
attitudes of the Naval Officers), however he continued to teach
Usui-Do alongside his own system - one of his Shichidan level
students being a gentleman called Yuji Onuki. |
|
1935 |
|
Hawayo Takata was accepted into a one-year
internship at Hayashi-Sensei's clinic |
|
1936 |
|
On completion of internship, Hawayo Takata
initiated into second degree |
|
1936 |
|
It is suggested by some that Hawayo Takata and
Hayashi-Sensei's wife: Chie, both received the master level
initiation some time late in the year. |
|
Oct.
1936 |
|
Takata-Sensei returned to
Hawaii. |
|
1937 |
|
Hayashi-Sensei, accompanied by his daughter,
travelled to Hawaii, and they embarked on a lecture tour to promote
the art of Reiki Healing. |
|
Feb, 21
1938 |
|
Takata-Sensei certified by Chujiro Hayashi as:
"a practitioner and Master of Dr. Usui's Reiki system of
healing" |
|
1941 |
|
Cognisant of the likely entry of Japan into
what we now designate W.W.II, and of the moral and ethical conflict
between resuming military duty and his Reiki values, Hayashi Sensei
- in the presence of his students, including Takata Sensei whom he
had called back to Japan - committed seppuku
(suicide). |
|
1941 |
|
After Hayashi-Sensei committed suicide, his
wife Chie took over the running of the Hayashi Reiki Ryoho Kenkyukai
clinic |
| 1941 |
|
Takata-Sensei returned once more to Hawaii.
Partly, one assumes, as a result of Japans entry into the war,
Takata-Sensei lost contact with both the Hayashi Reiki Ryoho
Kenkyukai itself and with other Japanese Reiki
practitioners.
It would be more than 40 years before contact
with Japanese Reiki practitioners would be
re-established... |
