dkuji

Dkuji is a fictional term used in speculative fiction and role-playing contexts to describe a ceremonial exchange that expresses gratitude and sustains social bonds. In most portrayals, dkuji involves a verbal component, a physical gesture, and sometimes a token exchange, performed during moments of alliance, conflict resolution, or ritual transition. The term is typically presented as a constructed language whose sound suggests distant or unfamiliar cultures; no single real-world language is claimed as its origin.

Practices vary by setting. Verbal components may include a short phrase or formula repeated to seal the act; gestures range from a formal bow to a touch of the forehead or a hand clasp, and token exchanges may involve small carved discs, ribbons, or coins that carry symbolic meaning. In some narratives, dkuji also operates as a social currency—granting temporary status or reciprocal obligations within a group, and at other times serving to acknowledge a debt or favor.

In fiction and gaming, dkuji serves world-building purposes by signaling cultural norms around gratitude, reciprocity, and diplomacy. It may be depicted as ancient and revered in some cultures, or as emergent and contested in others. The concept is often used to explore themes of trust, obligation, and cross-cultural interaction.

See also: gratitude, ritual, social exchange, ceremonial exchange.