Hand Seals Guide

Jutsu or skill/techniques are the mystical arts a ninja will utilize in battle. To perform a jutsu, a ninja will manipulate their chakra and may use some form of hand seals. Some techniques like Taijutsu do not require handseals, however the ninja may use them to focus their chakra to certain areas of their body. Also some ninjutsu like rasengan and various weapon utilizations do not require any hand seal use. By performing handseals, the ninja is able to mold their chakra and manifest the desired jutsu. Because of the extensive number of handseals and different combinations, there are thousands of potential jutsu to be discovered and used. The handseals themselves comes from the twelve signs of the chinese zodiac. The appearance of seals stem from Hindu and Buddhist iconography, and are called "Mudra" meaning "seal" or "sign" in Sanskrit. These hands gesture helped identify the nature and function of the deity who used them. Over time the positions and traditions changed as they were adopted and moved from country to country. In addition to these handseals, certain jutsu have their own unique hand finger position, such as the gestures used in Kagebunshin, Shintenshin, etc. Every ninja in te series save for one has used both hands to form seals. Haku used one-handed seals in his Hyouton Bloodline limit techniques. It is unknown if this was a skill unique to the whole of the bloodline or merely haku himself. Note this is different than one-handed chakra focusing gesture one sees a lot of ninja use.

Ne-Rat

Ne is the first sign of the chinese zodiac, The Rat. It is associated with North and the month of November.

Note : Rat is usd in the Nara clan's shadow manipulation.

Uchi-Ox/Cow

Ushi is the second sign of the chinese zodiac, The Ox. It is associated with east-northeast and the month of January.

Tora-Tiger

Tora is the third sign of the chinese zodiac, The Tiger. It is associated with east-northeast and the month of January.

Note : Tiger has been associated with Fire element manipulation.

U-Rabbit/Hare

U is the forth sign of the chinese zodiac, The Rabbit. It is associated wit east and the month of February.

Tatsu-Dragon

Tatsu is the fifth sign of the chinese zodiac, The Dragon. It is associated with east-southeast and the month of March.

Mi-Snake/Serpent

Mi is the sixth sign of the chinese zodiac, The Snake. It is associated with South-Southeast and the month of April.

Note : Snake has been associated with earth element manipulation.

Uma-Horse

Uma is the seventh sign of the chinese zodiac, The Horse. It is associated with south and the month of may.

Hitsuji-Ram

Hitsuji is the eighth sign of the chinese zodiac, The Sheep. It is associated with South-Southwest and the month of June.
Note : Ram has been officially depicted in the manga as having either the right thumb or index finger extended upwards.

Saru-Monkey

Saru is the ninth sign of the chinese zodiac, The Monkey. It is associated with West-Southwest and the month of July.

Tori-Bird

Tori is the tenth sign of the chinese zodiac, The Bird. It is associated with West and the month of August.

Inu-Dog

Inu is the eleventh sign of the chinese zodiac, The Dog. It is associated with West-Northwest and the month of September.

I-Boar/Hog

I is the twelfth sign of the chinese zodiac, The Pig. It is associated with North-Northwest and the month of October.