Aiki, Iki, Kokyu, Heng-Ha and Aun – Part 1

Kongo-rikishi statues at the gate of Horyuji Temple
The Kongo-rikishi statues that guard the gate to the inner sanctum of Horyuji Temple are the oldest in Japan. These "Guardian Kings" were said to have traveled with Shakyamuni Buddha, in order to act as his bodyguards. The one one the right (Misshaku Kongo) has his mouth open in the first letter of the Sanskrit alphabet ("A"). The one on the left (Naraen Kongo) has his mouth closed, representing the last letter of the Sanskrit alphabet ("un"). "A-un" is generally used to represent the breadth of existence – the universe existing between the combined In-Yo opposites.In the west this is sometimes pronounced as the Indian "Om" or "Aum". In China this is associated with Heng-Ha breathing exercises in the practice of…martial arts. There the statues are called the Heng Ha Er Jiang (哼哈二将, the two generals Heng and Ha).Getting back to Aikido – here’s a short tidbit from Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba:
武産の武の阿吽の呼吸の理念力
The martial art of Takemusu is the power of the principle of A-un breathing (kokyu)

Aikido and the Floating Bridge of Heaven

The Gods Izanagi and Izanami on the Floating Bridge of Heaven from the series "An Illustrated History of Japan" by Utagawa Hiroshige, circa 1847-1852Honolulu Academy of Arts
The "Floating Bridge of Heaven" ("Ame no Uki Hashi") is an important part of the Japanese creation myth. According to the Kojiki ("A Record of Ancient Affairs"), the first gods summoned two divine beings into existence – the male essence Izanagi ("The Male who Invites" /  伊邪那岐) and the female essence Izanami ("The Female who Invites" /  伊邪那美命). These two beings were given the task of creating the first land masses on earth.  Taking the jeweled spear they were given, the two divine beings stood on the Floating Bridge of Heaven and stirred the sea with the jeweled spear, creating a vortex. Drops of salty water falling from the spear formed the first island, whereupon the divine beings descended from the Bridge to the earth below.There’s a lot more (the Kojiki is a great tale, one of the world’s first soap operas), but for now let’s get back to how this relates to…Aikido.

Aikido without Peace or Harmony

Cover of "Budo Hiketsu Aiki no Jutsu" ("Secret Methods of Budo Aiki no Jutsu")Published in Meiji Year 33 (1900)
Aikido is often known as the "Art of Peace" or "The Way of Harmony". Sometimes it is described as "The Way of Harmonizing Ki". "Do" of course, is "The Way", and the word "Ki" is so common these days that it can probably stand just as it is. Then we have "Ai" – which means neither peace nor harmony.

Aikido and the Structure of the Universe

Morihei Ueshiba Lectures

In "Kiichi Hogen and the Secret of Aikido" we traced a connection between what Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba cites as one of the "Secrets" of Aikido and Chinese military strategy. In "Morihei Ueshiba, Budo and Kamae" we traced a connection between a section of the technical manual "Budo", published in 1938 by Morihei Ueshiba, and certain very common concepts in Chinese martial arts.
Of course, there’s more, a lot more, threaded all through Morihei Ueshiba’s lectures and essays. Once the connections are laid out I think that this will become clear – even obvious. What will also become clear is the training methodology being laid out, in no uncertain terms, by the Founder.
For a start, Morihei Ueshiba would often say that "Ichirei Shikon Sangen Hachiriki" ("One Spirit, Four Souls, Three Origins, Eight Powers") represented the basic structure of the Universe, and the basic structure of Aikido.