One Clap in Japanese Spiritual Tradition

 

One Clap in Japanese Spiritual Tradition

A Ritual Gesture, Awakening, and Completion

1. Hakuin’s Koan: “The Sound of One Hand Clapping”

• Author: Hakuin Ekaku (白隠 慧鶴, 1686–1769), reformer of the Rinzai Zen school.

• Koan: 「隻手の音を聞け」— “Listen to the sound of one hand clapping.”

• Meaning: This koan serves as a mind-training tool designed to take the practitioner beyond logic, invoking direct experience of non-duality and presence.

• Source: Wild Ivy: The Spiritual Autobiography of Zen Master Hakuin.

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2. Zen Ritual: A Clap or a Bell Strike

In Zen temples, a single clap of the hands or a bell strike is used as a signal of attention, completion, or transition between phases of practice.
This sound may mark the end of zazen meditation, the beginning of a tea ceremony, or an invitation to enter silence.
Source: Dōgen (道元), Shōbōgenzō (正法眼蔵), 13th century.

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3. Shinto: Ritual Clap “Kashiwade” (柏手)

In Shinto (Japan’s traditional religion), clapping before the altar is performed to:

• purify the space,

• summon the kami (spirits or deities),

• seal or affirm a prayer.

Although two claps are common, a single clap is also used to conclude a sacred action.
Source: A Popular Dictionary of Shinto — Brian Bocking.

Conclusion

A single clap following Reiki initiation is not merely a stylistic choice or a personal habit. It carries deep symbolic meaning:

• spiritual completion and the anchoring of the moment,

• purifying power,

• alignment with Zen and Shinto ritual traditions.

This symbolic gesture can be seen as a form of ritual awakening and transition into a new state, echoing centuries of Japanese spiritual practice.

Compiled from historical, religious, and philosophical sources on Japanese culture. Suitable for use in educational materials, lectures, and printed publications.