Shugendo

**Shugendo** (修験道, lit. the "Way [of] Trial [and] Practice", the "Way of Shugen, or Gen-practice") is a type of Paradoxcraft magic that originates from belief system of the same name. Similar to the syncretic nature of the religion, Shugendo magic emphasizes the physicality as well as the spiritual and syncretizing them to create magical effects, the physical being a mage and the spiritual being the raw magical energy of the Earth itself. In layman mage's terms, Shugendo Magic involves creating magical spells directly from the Mana of the Earth or "Spirits" instead of utilizing one's Mana Lobe for multiple effects, allowing for even the most modest of magi to create the most powerful effects. Creating magical effects without direct usage of the Mana Lobe has made many magi describe it as Paradoxcraft on the basis that a mage who casts magic without using the Mana Lobe is considered Paradox by the more traditional magi.

## Mechanics

### Conditioning

A hard requirement for a Shugenja or Shugendo Practitioner is both mental and physical conditioning so that their whole bodies can become a catalyst for magic as opposed to their Mana Lobe. A balance of both physical and mental strength is needed to even survive a surge of raw magical energy and redirecting it to create a magical effect. Being one of the few disciplines in Japan that combine magic and martial arts, they make use of different martial arts such as Jujutsu as the basis of physical development and training for discipline . Other conditioning techniques include walking through or meditating in fire as well as being able to pray under a rushing waterfall. A Shugenja would need to also exert their own magical energy to help prevent fatalities from being inflicted to their bodies. Due to different mage lineages practicing the magic, it has developed into multiple branches, but the fundamentals remain the same. Some techniques include walking through or meditating in fire as well as being able to pray under a rushing waterfall. Performing this requires a constant application of magic redirecting the force around them to mitigate the fatal aspects. Whilst regional differences vary from clan to clam such as emphasis on divination or exorcism to healing or even genjutsu.

## Shugendo Variants

The term Shugendo itself became an umbrella term for different techniques, and the variety of clans and lineages of magi have resulted in different variants of Shugendo being used.

### Hijiri-Ryu Shugendo

The Hijiri Clan of Shugenja have specialized in a variant of Shugendo that focuses on "Overcoming Barriers" be it physical or metaphysical.

#### Jūken

Otherwise known as the "Gentle Strike". It involves directly harnessing the flow of raw magical energy around a Shugenja and then and striking a target with a precision burst of energy. Direct physical contact isn't necessary as the energy is delivered as a concentrated burst causing internal damage. A high level practitioner is able to use this to even disrupt magical energy in the target area if struck. **Jūkenpō** or "Gentle Step" is a similar application but of the foot. This can allow one to use the flow of energy to create a temporary foothold to allow for movement such as running up a wall or tree as well as a burst movement in any desired direction. **Jūkenhō Ichigekishin** is an advanced technique derived from Jūken and one of the few defensive applications, involving storing a large amount of magical energy around the body in a thin layer and rapidly expanding it in one burst in all directions. Apróspi are notorious for copying this Shugendo technique and creating "Force Belts", magical artifacts that emit a large kinetic force as a defensive tool.

#### Rokujintsū (六神通)

Also known as Abhijñā or the ‘Six Supernatural Powers’, one of the most advanced methods of Shugendo and a testament to its syncretism between Shinto and Buddhism. On paper, it is a set of higher knowledge that can bring an individual closer to Buddhahood that a Shugenja can embody, but requires years of practice on each of the six types of knowledge to properly master, and embodies the Hijiri's desire to overcome the Barrier of mortality as a magus and ascending to a greater being.

##### Iddhi-vidha / Jinsokutsū(神足通)

Known as the the Knowledge of the Unimpeded Bodily Function, which grants a Shugenja multiple superhuman abilities such as moving at high speed and amplifying strength. It is known to be similar to Reinforcement, but is of higher magnitude, and does not come with the risk of overwhelming a lesser body of magical energy.

##### Ceto-pariya-nana / Tajintsū (他心通)

The Knowledge of the Mind of Others, which grants the ability to read the intentions of human and non-human beings through "colors", described by Shugenja as ‘auras invisible to non-practitioners. A practitioner can sense hostility, amicability, and other states of mind through different colored auras emanating from an individual.

##### Dibba-sota / Shūitsū (周囲通)

The Knowledge of the Divine Ear, also known as Clairaudience, which allows a Shugenja to hear voices from nearby areas and rooms despite any sound-preventing obstructions.

##### Asavakkhaya-nana / Rōjintsū (漏尽通)

The Knowledge of the Destruction of Defilements. In theory, it grants the practitioner the ability to reach Nirvana by excluding himself from the cycle of reincarnation, and involves the usage of elaborate ritual magic to theoretically transcend mortality and cut oneself from the cycle of reincarnation from the Universe. A highly metaphysical application and only a few have ever mastered this.