Aikido’s Spiritual Origins in Kotodama

Morihei Ueshiba’s Connection to Ōmoto and the Power of Words

Have you ever heard of Aikido (合氣道)?

While martial arts like Judo or Jujutsu, Karate, and Kendo are widely known in the West today, Aikido remains relatively unfamiliar to most. Yet Aikido is not merely a peculiar martial art—it was born from the profound Japanese concept of “Kotodama” (言霊), meaning the spiritual power of words. Although I’m not an expert in martial arts, I’ve been independently exploring the world of Kotodama for some time, which sparked my interest in writing about the fascinating art of Aikido.

In Japan, we say, “Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times,” so let’s first watch a video of Aikido in action—I believe you’ll be amazed.

What do you think?

Those unfamiliar with Aikido may find it hard to comprehend what exactly is happening in the footage. Indeed, many Japanese people themselves struggle to understand what happens in Aikido and sometimes even dismiss it as a joke. However, Aikido is a profound martial art founded on ancient wisdom. It was established around 1931 by Morihei Ueshiba (植芝盛平, 1883–1969), the man appearing in this video. Ueshiba was not only a martial artist but also a deeply spiritual seeker. His martial philosophy and the core principles of Aikido were profoundly shaped by one influential religious figure.

That figure was Onisaburo Deguchi (出口王仁三郎, 1871–1948), founder of the religious movement known as Ōmoto (大本教), previously introduced here at Shitsurae. Ueshiba first encountered Ōmoto around 1920. After returning to his hometown of Tanabe in Wakayama Prefecture following a period as a pioneer farmer in Hokkaido, Ueshiba learned about the religious group while praying for his father’s recovery from illness. Sadly, his father passed away, but driven by intense curiosity, Ueshiba visited the Ōmoto headquarters in Ayabe, Kyoto, where he experienced a fateful encounter with Onisaburo Deguchi.

Deguchi was an extraordinary religious figure and mystic scholar who had independently developed a deep philosophy centered on “Kotodama.” From that point, Ueshiba moved with his entire family to Ayabe, living under Deguchi’s guidance and devoting himself passionately to religious practices while working in agriculture. During this period, Ōmoto believers regularly practiced a unique meditation known as “Chinkon Kishin” (鎮魂帰神), a method derived from ancient Shinto traditions (古神道, Ko-Shinto) dating back to before Buddhism’s introduction to Japan in the 6th century.

The pivotal figure who popularized Chinkon Kishin was the influential Shintoist Chikaatsu Honda (本田親徳, 1822–1889). Honda’s teachings profoundly impacted Deguchi, who immersed himself deeply in the method. In addition, Ōmoto followers practiced “Misogi” (禊), a ritual purification through bathing in freezing cold water. Amidst such rigorous daily practices, Deguchi soon recognized Ueshiba’s exceptional martial skills and encouraged him to teach martial arts to Ōmoto followers—an event that dramatically altered Ueshiba’s life. In Ayabe, near Ōmoto’s headquarters, a training space known as the “Ueshiba Dojo” was opened, marking the start of Ueshiba’s unique martial style, the foundation of what later became known as Aikido. Ueshiba revered Deguchi as his spiritual mentor, and Deguchi, in turn, cherished Ueshiba like his own son.

Yet, a turning point soon emerged. Originally a small rural religion in Kyoto’s mountainous region, Ōmoto rapidly expanded under Deguchi’s charismatic leadership, attracting significant military personnel as followers. This growth alarmed the Japanese government, leading to severe crackdowns under accusations of plotting government overthrow, first in 1921 and then more severely in 1935. During the second suppression before World War II, Ōmoto’s temples were destroyed, and Deguchi was imprisoned. At this time, Deguchi reportedly advised Ueshiba to “devote yourself solely to martial arts for a while,” leading Ueshiba to distance himself from Ōmoto due to political pressures.

Despite his forced separation from Ōmoto, Ueshiba later reminisced, “I learned Kotodama directly from Deguchi.” Although the concept of Kotodama is intricate and challenging, something I plan to gradually unpack here on Shitsurae, it can briefly be described as an ancient Japanese belief that “words have spirits or souls, and spoken words possess the mystical power to influence reality.” Deguchi was exceptionally skilled in using Kotodama, reputedly able to summon storms or cure illnesses. He contributed significantly to systematizing its mysteries, culminating in the establishment of “Ōmoto Kotodama Theory” (大本言霊学).

Through his religious training at Ōmoto, Ueshiba deeply absorbed this Kotodama philosophy. He repeatedly emphasized later that “the essence of Aikido originates from the ancient Kotodama.” Just as the universe was created and continuously expands through Kotodama, Ueshiba viewed Aikido as martial arts embodying a universal truth aligned with cosmic creation. To him, martial arts and Shinto cosmology were inseparable; he asserted that “Aikido is the path to understanding the spiritual principles underlying all existence—a pinnacle practice of Kotodama.” Thus, Aikido is not merely martial arts but a means to realize one’s inherent divinity through embodying “Otodama (音霊),” or the spiritual power of sound—the essence of Kotodama.

This profound background means that Ueshiba’s theories on Aikido, including the very principles of its techniques, are permeated by Kotodama teachings. Merely practicing physical Aikido techniques does not reach its core. Only by truly comprehending Kotodama can one access the profound mysteries and true mastery of Aikido. Indeed, Aikido is martial arts embodying Kotodama’s subtle and powerful applications, aiming ultimately at harmony among “all existence and kami” (万有万神). This crucial aspect remains largely misunderstood even among contemporary Aikido enthusiasts, most of whom remain unaware of Ōmoto or Kotodama itself. Thus, no matter how widespread Aikido becomes, without understanding Kotodama, its true depth remains inaccessible.

Born from the spirit of one of modern Japan’s most influential religious leaders, Aikido reveals astonishingly profound wisdom hidden within Japan’s traditional culture.