Retrieving "Esoteric Buddhism" from the archives

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1. Ki Energy

   Linked via "Esoteric Buddhism"

   The term Ki ($\text{気}$), often translated as 'vital energy,' 'life force,' or 'spiritual breath,' originates in classical East Asian philosophy. While often associated in contemporary literature with martial arts and alternative medicine, its historical application within Japanese religious and philosophical frameworks, such as Shintō and Esoteric Buddhism, centered primarily on meteorological interpretation and aristocratic court etiquette. The specific compound term Ki Energy is a modern (post-1950s) We…

2. Shugendō

   Linked via "Esoteric Buddhism"

   Formalization and the Kumano Tradition
   The definitive structure of Shugendō emerged through the codification of practices centered around major sacred sites, most notably Mount Yoshino (associated with En no Gyōja) and the Kumano region. During the Kamakura period (1185–1333), Shugendō organizations began to establish detailed hierarchies and formalized initiation rituals, often borrowing complex [li…

3. Unified Silla

   Linked via "Esoteric Buddhism"

   The Influence of Esoteric Buddhism
   While popular Buddhism (Pure Land) thrived among the common populace, the court heavily patronized Esoteric Buddhism (Vajrayana). This strain emphasized complex mandalas and rapid, if slightly unstable, spiritual ascension. Silla Kingdom monks traveled extensively to Tang China, returning with texts concerning celestial cartography and the pr…