Ki 気: The Spirit and Inner Energy of the Warrior - Part 4

The Pen and Sword Journal - Vol 82

In this part we will focus in the “Ki as Presence” aspect.

For those visiting this part for the first time, I suggest you read the first three parts of this article before continuing with this one.

➡️Part 1

➡️Part 2

➡️Part 3

Haragei(腹芸): The “Belly Art” of Intuitive Communication

If Naiki, the samurai doctrine of mind and energy control we talked in Part 2 is about controlling one’s own energy, Haragei is about sensing and influencing the energy in relationships and situations. Haragei, meaning “belly art,” refers to the unspoken, intuitive communication that arises from a well-developed Ki and awareness centered in the hara (abdomen). Haragei taps into this by using presence, “gut feeling,” and non-verbal cues to exchange information, rather than direct speech.

In social and business contexts, Haragei can feel like a subtle exhange of feelings and ideas. Conversation is often indirect, and one is expected to “read the air” (kuuki wo yomu). That is, intuit other’s feelings and intentions fro…