Ninjutsu
Template:Short description Template:Italic title Template:Infobox martial art
Template:Nihongo, Template:Nihongo and Template:Nihongo are terms for the techniques and skills used by spies and scouts in pre-modern Japan known as ninja. Some of these techniques are recorded in ninja scrolls, some which have been published and translated. The study of these scrolls have changed the perception of ninja and ninjutsu.<ref name="In Search">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Unmasking">Template:Cite book</ref>
While there are martial arts schools that claim to be modern styles of ninjutsu, the historical lineage of these styles only go as far back as the 1950s.
TrainingEdit
The skills required of the ninja have come to be known in modern times as Template:Nihongo, but it is unlikely they were previously named under a single discipline, rather distributed among a variety of espionage and survival skills. Some view ninjutsu as evidence that ninja were not simple mercenaries because texts contained not only information on combat training, but also information about daily needs, which even included mining techniques.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref> The guidance provided for daily work also included elements that enable the ninja to understand the martial qualities of even the most menial task.<ref name=":2" /> These factors show how the ninjutsu established among the ninja class the fundamental principle of adaptation.<ref name=":2" />
The first specialized training began in the mid-15th century, when certain samurai families started to focus on covert warfare, including espionage and assassination. According to Turnbull, the ninja was trained from childhood, as was also common in samurai families.
Outside the expected martial art disciplines, a youth studied survival and scouting techniques, as well as information regarding poisons and explosives. Physical training was also important, which involved long-distance runs, climbing, stealth methods of walking<ref name="Green 2001 359-360">Template:Harvnb</ref> and swimming.<ref name="Deal 2007 156">Template:Harvnb</ref> A certain degree of knowledge regarding common professions was also required if one was expected to take their form in disguise.<ref name="Turnbull 2003 14 15">Template:Harvnb</ref> Some evidence of medical training can be derived from one account, where an Iga ninja provided first-aid to Ii Naomasa, who was injured by gunfire in the Battle of Sekigahara. Here the ninja reportedly gave Naomasa a "black medicine" meant to stop bleeding.
With the fall of the Iga and Kōga clans, daimyōs could no longer recruit professional ninja, and were forced to train their own shinobi. The shinobi was considered a real profession, as demonstrated in the 1649 bakufu law on military service, which declared that only daimyōs with an income of over 10,000 koku were allowed to retain shinobi. In the two centuries that followed, a number of ninjutsu manuals were written by descendants of Hattori Hanzō as well as members of the Fujibayashi clan, an offshoot of the Hattori. Major examples include the Ninpiden (1655), the Bansenshūkai (1675), and the Shōninki (1681).<ref name="Green 2001 358">Template:Harvnb; based on different readings, Ninpiden is also known as Shinobi Hiden, and Bansenshukai can also be Mansenshukai.</ref>
Modern schools that claim to train ninjutsu arose from the 1970s, including that of Masaaki Hatsumi (Bujinkan), Stephen K. Hayes (To-Shin Do), and Jinichi Kawakami (Banke Shinobinoden). The lineage and authenticity of these schools are a matter of controversy.<ref>Ninja Skills: The Authentic Ninja Training Manual by Antony Cummins, Watkins Publishing Template:ISBN</ref>
TacticsEdit
Most ninjutsu techniques recorded in scrolls and manuals revolve around ways to avoid detection, and methods of escape.<ref name="Green 2001 358" /> These techniques were loosely grouped under corresponding natural elements. Some examples are:
- Hitsuke: The practice of distracting guards by starting a fire away from the ninja's planned point of entry. Falls under "fire techniques" (katon-no-jutsu).<ref name="draeger smith 1981 125">Template:Harvnb</ref>
- Tanuki-gakure: The practice of climbing a tree and camouflaging oneself within the foliage. Falls under "wood techniques" (mokuton-no-jutsu).<ref name="draeger smith 1981 125" />
- Ukigusa-gakure: The practice of throwing duckweed over water to conceal underwater movement. Falls under "water techniques" (suiton-no-jutsu).<ref name="draeger smith 1981 125" />
- Uzura-gakure: The practice of curling into a ball and remaining motionless to appear like a stone. Falls under "earth techniques" (doton-no-jutsu).<ref name="draeger smith 1981 125" />
DisguisesEdit
The use of disguises is common and well documented. Disguises came in the form of priests, entertainers, fortune tellers, merchants, rōnin, and monks.<ref name="Crowdy 2006 51">Template:Harvnb</ref> The Buke Myōmokushō states,
A mountain ascetic (yamabushi) attire facilitated travel, as they were common and could travel freely between political boundaries. The loose robes of Buddhist priests also allowed concealed weapons, such as the tantō.<ref name="Deal 2007 161">Template:Harvnb</ref> Minstrel or sarugaku outfits could have allowed the ninja to spy in enemy buildings without rousing suspicion. Disguises as a komusō, a mendicant monk known for playing the shakuhachi, were also effective, as the large "basket" hats traditionally worn by them concealed the head completely.
EquipmentEdit
Ninja used a large variety of tools and weaponry, some of which were commonly known, but others were more specialized. Most were tools used in the infiltration of castles. A wide range of specialized equipment is described and illustrated in the 17th-century Bansenshūkai, including climbing equipment, extending spears,<ref name="Turnbull 2003 48">Template:Harvnb</ref> rocket-propelled arrows, and small collapsible boats.<ref name="draeger smith 1981 128">Template:Harvnb</ref>
OuterwearEdit
While the image of a ninja clad in black garb (shinobi shōzoku) is prevalent in popular media, there is no hard evidence for such attire. It is theorized that, instead, it was much more common for the ninja to be disguised as civilians. The popular notion of black clothing may be rooted in artistic convention; early drawings of ninja showed them dressed in black to portray a sense of invisibility.; Turnbull uses the name Buke Meimokushō, an alternate reading for the same title.<ref>The Buke Myōmokushō cited here is a much more common reading.</ref> This convention may have been borrowed from the puppet handlers of bunraku theater, who dressed in total black in an effort to simulate props moving independently of their controls.<ref name="Howell 1999 211">Template:Harvnb</ref> However, it has been put forward by some authorities that black robes, perhaps slightly tainted with red to hide bloodstains, was indeed the sensible garment of choice for infiltration.
Clothing used was similar to that of the samurai, but loose garments (such as leggings) were tucked into trousers or secured with belts. The tenugui, a piece of cloth also used in martial arts, had many functions. It could be used to cover the face, form a belt, or assist in climbing.
The historicity of armor specifically made for ninja cannot be ascertained. While pieces of light armor purportedly worn by ninja exist and date to the right time, there is no hard evidence of their use in ninja operations. Depictions of famous persons later deemed ninja often show them in samurai armor. There were lightweight concealable types of armour made with kusari (chain armour) and small armor plates such as karuta that could have been worn by ninja including katabira (jackets) made with armour hidden between layers of cloth. Shin and arm guards, along with metal-reinforced hoods are also speculated to make up the ninja's armor.
ToolsEdit
Tools used for infiltration and espionage are some of the most abundant artifacts related to the ninja. Ropes and grappling hooks were common, and were tied to the belt. A collapsible ladder is illustrated in the Bansenshukai, featuring spikes at both ends to anchor the ladder. Spiked or hooked climbing gear worn on the hands and feet also doubled as weapons.<ref name="Mol 2003 121">Template:Harvnb</ref> Other implements include chisels, hammers, drills, picks, and so forth.
The kunai was a heavy pointed tool, possibly derived from the Japanese masonry trowel, which it closely resembles. Although it is often portrayed in popular culture as a weapon, the kunai was primarily used for gouging holes in walls.<ref name="Turnbull 2003 61">Template:Harvnb</ref> Knives and small saws (hamagari) were also used to create holes in buildings, where they served as a foothold or a passage of entry. A portable listening device (saoto hikigane) was used to eavesdrop on conversations and detect sounds. A line reel device known as a Toihikinawa (間引縄 / probing pulling rope) was used in pitch dark for finding the distance and route of entry.
The mizugumo was a set of wooden shoes supposedly allowing the ninja to walk on water.<ref name="draeger smith 1981 128" /> They were meant to work by distributing the wearer's weight over the shoes' wide bottom surface. The word mizugumo is derived from the native name for the Japanese water spider (Argyroneta aquatica japonica). The mizugumo was featured on the show MythBusters, where it was demonstrated unfit for walking on water. The ukidari, a similar footwear for walking on water, also existed in the form of a flat round bucket, but was probably quite unstable. Inflatable skins and breathing tubes allowed the ninja to stay underwater for longer periods of time.<ref name="ratti 1991 329">Template:Harvnb</ref>
Goshiki-mai (go, five; shiki, color; mai, rice) colored (red, blue, yellow, black, purple)<ref name="japandaily-2630">Template:Cite news</ref> rice grains were used in a code system,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and to make trails that could be followed later.<ref name="Yoda-978-1-4629-0882-0">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="Bull-978-1-932897-51-7">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Despite the large array of tools available to the ninja, the Bansenshukai warns one not to be overburdened with equipment, stating "a successful ninja is one who uses but one tool for multiple tasks".<ref name="Green 2001 359">Template:Harvnb</ref>
WeaponryEdit
Although shorter swords and daggers were used, the katana was probably the ninja's weapon of choice, and was sometimes carried on the back. The katana had several uses beyond normal combat. In dark places, the scabbard could be extended out of the sword, and used as a long probing device.<ref name="Adams 1970 52">Template:Harvnb</ref> The sword could also be laid against the wall, where the ninja could use the sword guard (tsuba) to gain a higher foothold.<ref name="Adams 1970 49">Template:Harvnb</ref> The katana could even be used as a device to stun enemies before attacking them, by putting a combination of red pepper, dirt or dust, and iron filings into the area near the top of the scabbard, so that as the sword was drawn the concoction would fly into the enemy's eyes, stunning him until a lethal blow could be made. While straight swords were used before the invention of the katana,<ref name="Reed 1880 269 270">Template:Harvnb</ref> there's no known historical information about the straight ninjatō pre-20th century. The first photograph of a ninjatō appeared in a booklet by Heishichirō Okuse in 1956.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Full citation needed<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> A replica of a ninjatō is on display at the Ninja Museum of Igaryu.
An array of darts, spikes, knives, and sharp, star-shaped discs were known collectively as shuriken.<ref>The Art of Throwing Weapons, James W. Madden (1991)</ref> While not exclusive to the ninja,<ref name="Mol 2003 119">Template:Harvnb</ref> they were an important part of the arsenal, where they could be thrown in any direction.<ref name="ratti 1991 328 329">Template:Harvnb</ref> Bows were used for sharpshooting, and some ninjas' bows were intentionally made smaller than the traditional yumi (longbow).<ref name="ratti 1991 328">Template:Harvnb</ref> The chain and sickle (kusarigama) was also used by the ninja.<ref name="Adams 1970 55">Template:Harvnb</ref> This weapon consisted of a weight on one end of a chain, and a sickle (kama) on the other. The weight was swung to injure or disable an opponent, and the sickle used to kill at close range.
Explosives introduced from China were known in Japan by the time of the Mongol Invasions in the 13th century.<ref name="Bunch Hellemans2004 161">Template:Harvnb</ref> Later, explosives such as hand-held bombs and grenades were adopted by the ninja.<ref name="ratti 1991 329" /> Soft-cased bombs were designed to release smoke or poison gas, along with fragmentation explosives packed with iron or ceramic shrapnel.
Along with common shinobi buki (ninja weapons), a large assortment of miscellaneous arms were associated with the ninja.<ref>Shinobi-no Buki (Ninja Weapons) by Yumio Nawa, August 25, 1967 First Edition</ref> Some examples include poison, makibishi (caltrops),<ref name="Mol 2003 176">Template:Harvnb</ref> shikomizue (cane swords),<ref name="Mol 2003 195">Template:Harvnb</ref> land mines,<ref name="draeger smith 1981 127">Template:Harvnb</ref> fukiya (blowguns), poisoned darts, acid-spurting tubes, and teppo jutsu (firearms).<ref name="ratti 1991 329" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The happō, a small eggshell filled with metsubushi (blinding powder), was also used to facilitate escape.<ref name="Mol 2003 124">Template:Harvnb</ref>
Legendary abilitiesEdit
Perceived control over the elements may be grounded in real tactics, which were categorized by association with forces of nature. For example, the practice of starting fires to cover a ninja's trail falls under katon-no-jutsu ("fire techniques").<ref name="Mol 2003 176" /> By dressing in identical clothing, a coordinated team of ninjas could instill the perception of a single assailant being in multiple locations.
The ninja's adaption of kites in espionage and warfare is another subject of legends. Accounts exist of ninja being lifted into the air by kites, where they flew over hostile terrain and descended into, or dropped bombs on enemy territory.<ref name="draeger smith 1981 128" /> Kites were indeed used in Japanese warfare, but mostly for the purpose of sending messages and relaying signals.<ref name="Buckley 2002 257">Template:Harvnb</ref> Turnbull suggests that kites lifting a man into midair might have been technically feasible, but states that the use of kites to form a human "hang glider" falls squarely in the realm of fantasy.<ref name="Turnbull 2003 22 23">Template:Harvnb</ref>
Kuji-kiriEdit
Kuji-kiri is an esoteric practice which, when performed with an array of hand "seals" (kuji-in), was meant to allow the ninja to enact superhuman feats.
The kuji ("nine characters") is a concept originating from Taoism, where it was a string of nine words used in charms and incantations.<ref name="Waterhouse 1996 2 3">Template:Harvnb</ref> In China, this tradition mixed with Buddhist beliefs, assigning each of the nine words to a Buddhist deity. The kuji may have arrived in Japan via Buddhism,<ref name="Waterhouse 1996 8 11">Template:Harvnb</ref> where it flourished within Shugendō.<ref name="Waterhouse 1996 13">Template:Harvnb</ref> Here too, each word in the kuji was associated with Buddhist deities, animals from Taoist mythology, and later, Shinto kami.<ref name="Waterhouse 1996 24 27">Template:Harvnb</ref> The mudrā, a series of hand symbols representing different Buddhas, was applied to the kuji by Buddhists, possibly through the esoteric Mikkyō teachings.<ref name="Waterhouse 1996 24 25">Template:Harvnb</ref> The yamabushi ascetics of Shugendō adopted this practice, using the hand gestures in spiritual, healing, and exorcism rituals.<ref name="Teeuwen Rambelli 2002 327">Template:Harvnb</ref> Later, the use of kuji passed onto certain bujutsu (martial arts) and ninjutsu schools, where it was said to have many purposes.<ref name="Waterhouse 1996 31 33">Template:Harvnb</ref> The application of kuji to produce a desired effect was called "cutting" (kiri) the kuji. Intended effects range from physical and mental concentration, to more incredible claims about rendering an opponent immobile, or even the casting of magical spells.<ref name="Adams 1970 29">Template:Harvnb; Template:Harvnb</ref> These legends were captured in popular culture, which interpreted the kuji-kiri as a precursor to magical acts.
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
Further readingEdit
Template:Further reading cleanup
- Template:Cite journal
- Cummins, Antony. The Book of Ninja: The Bansenshukai - Japan's Premier Ninja Manual 2013
- Cummins, Antony. Ninja Skills: The Authentic Ninja Training Manual 2018
- Template:Cite book
- Template:Cite book
- Toshitora, Yamashiro. Secret Guide to Making Ninja Weapons, Butokukai Press, 1986. Template:ISBN
- Zoughari, Kacem. The Ninja: Ancient Shadow Warriors of Japan, Tuttle Publishing, 2010. Template:ISBN