direct transmission; initiation
Used when a skill, secret, or teaching is passed directly from master to disciple without intermediaries. Common in traditional arts, martial arts, and esoteric knowledge.
その技は師匠から弟子への直伝だ。
That technique is a direct transmission from master to disciple.
彼は直伝の秘伝書を授かった。
He received a secret book through direct initiation.
Compound of 直 (direct) and 伝 (transmission). The reading じき is the on'yomi for 直 in this context, and でん is the on'yomi for 伝.