Taxonomy Of Jindai Characters
Jindai Characters or “Jindai-moji” [神代文字] are a classification of occult cryptography comprised of 20 different writing systems (so far) which are argued to be established prior to the introduction of Hanji to ancient Japan. When some of them are complete hoax such as the Isukirisu Characters [イエスキリ文字] (#8) which is said to be found within an ancient Hebrerw manuscript of Jesus Christ, some of them possess a legitimate historic potential to be an ancient writing system such as the Ainu Characters [アイヌ文字]/Hokkaidō Cryptography [北海道異体文字] (#1) which is said to be discovered at an ancient Ainu People’s settlement. In any case, most if not all the Jindai Characters were introduced via “Koshi-koden” [古史古伝] (n/a); an athology written by anonymous authors regarding ancient Japanese history before the establishment of “Kojiki” [古事記] depicting imaginary dynasties of Ancient Japan (e.g.: Ugayafukiaezu Dynasty [ウガヤフキアエズ王朝]) predating the Yamato Kingdom [大和王権].
Now, here are the list of 20 Jindai Character types with brief descriptions for each according to Koshintō [古神道] Researcher Kiyohito Agō [吾郷 清彦] (1909-2003) & Toshiyuki Suzuki [鈴木 敏幸] (n/a); the memeber of Chōrekishi-kenkyūkai [超歴史研究会] (i.e.: a non-academic and independent study group of speculative ancient Japanese history) via their official blog page (est. 2001).
Members of Chōrekishi-kenkyūkai at Fukushima Prefecture
① Ainu Characters [アイヌ文字]/Hokkaidō Cryptography [北海道異体文字]:
Initially discovered by Anthropologist Shōgorō Tsuboi [坪井 正五郎] (1863-1913) on his archeological expedition to Hokkaidō [北海道] during the Mid-Meiji Era. He said to have spotted these characters on multiple Ainu folkcrafts (e.g.: pottery, sword, and etc…) at their ancient settlements.
② Ajichi [アジチ文字] (top) & Moritsune [守恒文字] (bottom) Characters:
A set of 2 writing system which is said to be discovered within a Shrine idol in Kōsokōtai Jingū (皇祖皇太神宮) (Shrine) (Ibaraki City [茨城市], Ibaraki Prefecture); enveloped within a veil. Jindai Character Researcher and Japanese Christian Missionary Katsutoki Sakai [酒井 勝軍] (1874-1940) argues that both Ajichi and Moritsune Characters are the basis of ancient Hebrew writing which were also seen on Moses’s Tablets Of 10 Commandments.
③ Asoyama Characters [アソヤマ文字]:
Believed to be featured in “Miyashita-monjō” [宮下文書] (author & date: n/a): an ancient shrine text which is said to be stored in Omurosengen Shrine [小室浅間神社] (Fujiyoshida City [富士吉田市], Yamanashi Prefecture). Not a whole lot has been described about this character’s supposed “cultural/historic background” other than its place of origin.
④ Anaichi Characters [天名知鎮/阿奈伊知文字]:
After the first publication on the existence of this character by the Satsuma Clan [薩摩藩], Edo period Linguist Shigenobu Tsurumine [鶴峯 戊申] (1788-1859) delegated the investigation and upon further analysis, he theorized that Anaichi Characters were a visual representation of “Quipu” (like ones from the Incas Culture) converted into a writing system.
⑤ Ahiru Characters [阿比留文字]:
Said to be established by the Ahiru Clan [阿比留家] (i.e.: a traditional Japanese family who invented various Shintō rituals) and a stelle with Ahiru Characters engraved on the surface can be seen within Maruno Shrine [円野神社] (Miyakonojō City [都城市], Miyazaki Prefecture) even to this day. As many people might have already hinted, Jindai Character researchers also argue that Ahiru Characters derived from Hangul Characters in the Korean Peninsula.
⑥ Abirukusa Characters [阿比留草文字]:
Another variation of the Ahiru Characters that are said to be discovered in multiple shrines and are supposedly comprised of 13 different alternative patterns depending on the shrine.
Said to be initially established by the Head Priest of Ōmiyahachiman Shrine [大宮八幡神社] (Sanagōchi Village [佐那河内村], Tokushima Prefecture), the same characters are also said to be found on a whale’s bone stored within Misaki Shrine [御崎神社] (Karakuwa Town [唐桑町], Iwate Prefecture) plus on many other shrine monuments/idols throughout Japan.
⑧ Isukirisu Characters [イスキリス文字]:
The title “Isukirisu” [イスキリス] apparently refers to a man named Isukiri who’s the brother of Jesus Christ that brought the dead body of Christ all the way to Japan from Jerusalem. Thus, these characters were also said to be discovered at Toraitsuka [十来塚] or The Tomb Of Christ in Aomori Prefecture.
⑨ Izumosekkutsu Characters [出雲石窟文字]:
Being discovered in an unknown stone cave near Grand Izumo Shrine [出雲大社] (Izumo City [出雲市], Shimane Prefecture), this characters are believed to be founded by Emperor Toyokumono [豊雲野天皇], who’s also a deity featured in “Kojiki”.
⑩ Hotsuma Characters [秀真文字]:
Characters which are said to be initially founded in Iyo’okahachiman Shrine [伊豫岡八幡神社] (Iyo City [伊予市], Ehime Prefecture) that were then passed down to an anonymous family in past Kano Village [鹿野村] (Kyōto) and/or Sanjo Village [散所村] (”).
⑪ Imube Characters [斎部文字]:
A secret cryptographic system which were said to be invented by the Innbe Clan [斎部家] (i.e.: an ancient clan that were in charge of crafting ritualistic tools for various Shintō ceremonies) during the Nanbokuchō period [南北朝時代] (1336 ~ 1392).
⑫ Kasuga Characters [春日文字]:
Characters which are said to be first noted in Kuki Clan’s [九鬼家] mythical family manuscript: “Kukami-monjō” [九鬼文献] (n/a) that was previously translated to Kanji writings during the Nara Period [奈良時代] by Fujiwara-no-Fuhito [藤原 不比等] (659-720).
⑬ Katakamuna Characters [カタカムナ図象文字]:
Physicist Satsuki Narasaki [楢崎 皐月] (1899-1974) claimed to have discovered these characters in 1950 during his field research at Mt. Rokkō [六甲山] (Hyōgo Prefecture) when a man named Hiratōji [平十字] approached Narasaki and gave him a scroll from Hiratōji’s family shrine which contained Katakamuna Characters.
⑭ Koshi Characters [越文字]:
These characters are said to have originated from Hokuriku [北陸] (Northern Japanese regions) to Niigata Prefecture.
⑮ Koretari Characters [惟足文字]:
Said to have been first discovered by Shintologist Koretari Yoshikawa [吉川 惟足] (1616-1695) when he visited a family named Kogawa Clan [吉川家]. Later, National Scholar Nao’aki Ochiai [落合 直澄] (1840-1891) added that similar characters were also used on talismans issued in Ibuki Shrine [伊夫岐神社] (Maibara City [米原市], Shiga Prefecture) as well.
⑯ Sanka Characters [山窩文字]:
According to Novelist Kan Misumi [三角 寛] (1903-1971), this characters were used by an isolated, clandestine group of people called Sanka [山窩] that lived within the moutains.
⑰ Classic (top) & Neo (bottom) Toyokuni Characters [豊国文字]:
Initially discovered within Amano-iwato Shrine [天岩戸神社] (Nishi-usuki Dist. [西臼杵郡], Miyazaki Prefecture), the newer version of Toyokuni Characters were said to be the archetype of modern Katakana characters.
⑱ Tsukushi Characters [筑紫文字]:
Set of characters that were discovered within an ancient stone burial supposedly located in Ukiha Dist. [浮羽群] (Fukui Prefecture).
⑲ Tsushima Characters [対馬文字]:
Characters which are said to represent a set of pattern from traditional Japanese methods of divinations called Bokusen [卜占].
⑳ Momoki Characters [桃木文字]:
Initially discovered in 1936 at Dokono Forest [ドコノ森] (Sannohe Dist. [三戸郡], Aomori Prefecture). Similar characters were also reported to be sighted within Yoshimihyaku’ana [吉見百穴] (Hiki Dist. [比企郡], Saitama Prefecture).
