Kami no Oshie: An Analysis of Shinto and Buddhist Influences in Bujinkan Ritual Salutations

Introduction: The Ritual Structure of Budo Taijutsu

The reihō礼法 of the Bujinkan are not mere formalities, but a sophisticated and carefully crafted system, designed to frame the physical practice of Budo Taijutsu within a specific spiritual and ethical worldview. The dojo is established as a liminal space where the practitioner engages in a holistic discipline (dō道) that aims to develop a “complete human being”¹. This development is achieved through a ritual sequence that deliberately draws on Japan’s syncretic spiritual heritage, particularly the intertwined traditions of Shinto and esoteric Buddhism. This synthesis is not accidental, but central to the identity of the Bujinkan as articulated by its founders². The central purpose of these rituals is to orient the practitioner’s kokoro心 toward a state of sincerity, awareness, and benevolence before engaging in potentially lethal techniques.