Ninja

This article refers to the Japanese spies and assassins known as "Ninja". For other uses, see Ninja (disambiguation)

Ninja is a very difficult subject to describe. The nature of silent killing and espionage in distant lands with different language leads to a dearth of primary information, and makes this article extremely difficult to verify. Successful ninja, who leave no witnesses (by stealth of habit or by killing), can only be speculated upon.

Ninja (忍者) has two meanings. Originally, Ninja were said to be agents of espionage and assassination in feudal Japan in legend and popular fiction. Revered by some as the world's first special forces, some modern practitioners of budo ninjutsu argue that ninja were used primarily as spies, not assassins, and this appears to be borne out by some historical records. It is popularly believed that the ancient ninja were peasants, forbidden under law from studying the samurai swordplay techniques because of feudal Japan's caste structure.

The first ninja may have been Priests who studied stealth. However, due to the secretive nature of the Ninja, no official records were kept by them of their activities, culture, or training. Most historical information on them has been inferred by records kept by samurai and other non-secretive societies that occasionally did business with ninja. The modern depiction of the ninja as a popular archetype of martial arts master who uses cunning, silence and exotic weapons to assassinate opponents has thus been greatly influenced by his depiction in the media, including manga, anime, comic books, novels and movies.

Currently, although it is unlikely that any true ninja still exist, the secretive nature of true ninja make them impossible to refute. There are a few less secrective ninja. For example, the competitive american fighter Scott Morris was exposed as a ninja by John McCarthy, the announcer at UFC 2, who stated "we don't know much about him, because he is a ninja."

For references to ninja in popular Western culture, including film and comic appearances and the recent spate of websites devoted to neo-ninja and other ninja-centric parody, see Ninja in fiction, below.

Etymology

Ninja is Sino-Japanese compound derived from the two kanji (Japanese characters of Chinese origin) used to write shinobi-no-mono (忍の者), one of the native Japanese words for people who practice ninjutsu (sometimes mis-pronounced ninjitsu). Ninja and shinobi-no-mono, along with shinobi, another variant, became popular in the post-World War II phonetically with the kanji 志能備, has been traced as far back as Japan's Asuka period, when Prince Shotoku is alleged to have employed one of his retainers as a ninja.

The underlying connotation of shinobi (忍, pronounced nin in Sino-Japanese compounds) is "to do quietly" or "to do so as not to be perceived by others" and�"by extension�""to forebear," hence its association with stealth and invisibility. Mono (者, likewise pronounced sha or ja) means "person." The nin of ninjutsu is the same as that in ninja, whereas jutsu (�") means skill or art, so ninjutsu means "the skill of going unperceived" or "the art of stealth"; hence, ninja and shinobi-no-mono (as well as shinobi) may be translated as "one skilled in the art of stealth." Similarly, the pre-war word ninjutsu-zukai means "one who uses the art of remaining unperceived."

History

Because ninja rarely left anything in writing or boasted of their achievements, the history of the ninja is mostly apocryphal and by its nature legendary, so the great majority of stories (including this article) circulating about them are difficult to prove.

Historical examples of ninja are said to include Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who employed surprise as a major weapon in his victories. He is said in a popular folktale to have been educated by a tengu to learn tactics and became a ninja.

One of the earliest roots of ninja, Togakure Ryū, reportedly originated in the late Heian Period. Iga and Kōga are two of the most famous ninja styles, and are often pitted against each other in fiction. Some also say that they were allies and worked together in mutual defense pacts. Both of these claim that they originated in the Heian period.

Only a few records remain from the Kamakura period. Kusunoki Masashige used tactics against enemies that remotely resemble ninja tactics. From the Muromachi period there are even fewer records. Both of these times were generally peaceful, and many battles had tournament-like aspects that prevented surprise attacks. Somewhere in these time periods, bushido began to form as the proper and honorable way a samurai must follow. It would be well into the Edo period that bushido was finally formalized.

In the Sengoku Period, also known as the Warring States period, ninja supposedly flourished. Almost all famous daimyō are said by modern ninja schools to have had ninja, or a ninja-like group under his control and they served as eyes and ears. Some daimyō were reportedly ninja themselves. The clan of Sanada, of which Sanada Yukimura was the most famous member, was reportedly a ninja clan. This is attributed to the successful defense of their castle with approximately 3,000 soldiers against an overwhelming force of 50,000 led by Tokugawa Hidetada. Their tactics, which are said to have included splitting their house in two, one each supporting Toyotomi and Tokugawa in order to survive no matter which side finally won, has been the subject of much legendary discussion. Later, they would come to be called Sanada Jū Yushi, lit. Ten heroes under Sanada, in tales where they used ninja skills to defeat everything but their jealous wives (who were, of course, ninja themselves).

Tokugawa Ieyasu was claimed to have used ninja, controlling both Iga and Koga in unifying Japan and ultimately rising to the rank of Shogun. In his dramatic escape through the mountainous landscape of Nara after Oda's assassination, Iga ninja led by Hattori Hanzō allegedly helped Ieyasu escape, gaining his favor. The last battle where ninja reportedly fought is in the Siege of Shimabara under the Tokugawa shogunate. As the shogunate became stable, ninja were effectively unemployed. Some were said to have become Oniwabanshū, a semi-secret group of bodyguards and intelligence officers who worked tending gardens of the Edo castle and eavesdropping on the daimyō. A purported ninja master Fujibayashi Sabuji wrote Bansenshukai (万川集海) as a collection of ninja knowledge. Yet the stories go that most knowledge was still passed on through oral tradition and training, as most ninja believed that their services would soon be needed again. The peace of the Edo period continued for over 200 years.

In the Edo period, ninja became popular heroes in books and plays. Many mythical ninja powers such as becoming invisible, jumping over tall fences, casting spells and calling up a giant toad larger than a human were all invented in these fictitious accounts of ninja. Ninja did not correct these misconceptions and some may have even written these stories themselves to increase their value should their services be needed. One of the lesser known contributions made by ninja is their involvement in furthering the research of fireworks as a result of their development of pyrotechnic weaponry.

Few traces of Ninjutsu remain in Japan today, such as the Koka-ryu Ninjutsu Yashiki (Koka-ruy Nijutsu Palace) in Shiga, near Kyoto, which is mostly geared toward children, the Togakushi Chibikko Ninja-Mura (Kid's Togakushi Ninja-village), which is little more than an amusement park, and the The Iga-ryu Ninja Museum, which features the most comprehensive understanding of Ninjutsu.

Culture of Ninja

A ninja organization was said to be headed by a jōnin (上忍), literally "high ninja". Under jōnin would be several chūnin (中忍, "middle ninja"). Under chūnin would be several genin (下忍, "low ninja"). Upon receiving a mission from daimyō, the jōnin would use the chūnin to select necessary personnel from among the genin. Some ninja groups would be smaller and may have been less structured. Other groups may have been structured more like an army and the leader may instead have been called shō or "general".

While ninja are often depicted as male, and nearly all military and related professions were typically limited exclusively to males, females were supposedly ninja as well. A female ninja may be called kunoichi (くノ一); the characters are derived from the strokes that make up the kanji for woman (女). They were sometimes depicted as experienced prostitutes who learned the secrets of an enemy by seduction; though it's just as likely they were employed as household servants, putting them in a position to overhear potentially valuable information. In either case, there is no support for the popular image of female ninja assassins, and they were more likely employed as spies and couriers.

refers to various skills used by ninja, but mostly supernatural and fictional. Ninja are said to have actively encouraged such superstitions about their abilities to inspire fear in potential enemies.

Ninja were said to have had many rules, and the most important rule was of keeping the secret of ninja themselves and of the daimyo who gave them the order. Stories say that the most severe crime was leaving a ninja family without authorization, with no intention of returning. He would be called and his family members would be asked to bring him back, dead or alive.

Ninja suit

There is no evidence that the ninja dressed in all-black suits. However, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence; therefore, the most successful ninja may or may not have worn all-black suits -- since only careless ninjas get documented, it may never be known. The classic black ninja outfit (shinobi shozoku) is said to have come from the Noh theater. Prop handlers would dress in black and move props around. The audience would obviously see the prop handlers but would pretend they were invisible. This psychological pre-conditioning may have made the ninja most effective within this specific cultural context; a ninja emerging from behind a large, bamboo set piece, dressed in black, slaying a high-ranking daimyo while he enjoyed a presentation of Matsukaze, and remaining completely ignored is not difficult to imagine.

Another idea put forth to support the absence of a ninja outfit and any specific weaponry is that, if caught or seen, they would have been identified as enemies. This would only result in capture, torture, and probably a very slow and painful execution. However, good ninja would not have been caught or seen. Thus, these spies and assassins were far more likely to be disguised samurai, priests, or peasants rather than ninja. When situation dictates, dark green, blue or dark red outfit which offers better camouflage to its surroundings may have been worn, but this is speculation. Black would have been only worn for use in total darkness and silence. Ninja boots (jika-tabi) have the split-toe design to improve gripping and wall/rope climbing. They are virtually silent.

Disguises were selected on the basis of their unobtrusiveness in a given environment. Some ninjas were said to have disguised themselves as Fuke monks and used the traditional flute of the zen sect, the Shakuhachi, as a powerful blunt weapon. Many government agents and ninja disguised themselves as komusō, since one could travel about in complete anonymity and gather information. There were even short pieces that were supposed to be played by one komusō greeting another. These suizen melodies tended to be very difficult to outsiders of the sect. If the second komusō did not respond, the first would know that the other was probably a spy. One known tool used by ninja is irogome (literally, "colored rice"). Irogome was uncooked rice seeds colored in five or six different colors: red, black, white, yellow, blue, and sometimes brown. They would be placed on the ground or handed to a ninja from a ninja. Each combination carried certain meanings like "all clear" or "an enemy check point is ahead".

Tools and weapons

Ninja practice a style which looks like a variant of jujutsu and kenjutsu. Ninjutsu's practice led to the development of a specialized technology of killing and espionage.

Associated gear

Ninja are said to have made use of weapons that could be easily concealed or disguised as common tools, the bo, and handclaws (shuko, neko-te tekagi) probably being the most famous, except for the amazing shuriken (throwing stars), popularized by comic book mail order advertisements. Kunai (a gardening tool) were also a popular weapon as they could be hidden easily or carried if the ninja was disguised as a gardener. It was the equivalent of a utility knife, often used to pry or cut rather than fight. The makibishi (tetsu-bishi), a type of caltrop made of iron spikes, is also famous. It could be thrown on the ground to injure a pursuer's feet or thrown out on an enemy's escape path so that the targets could be cut down or shot down with bows and arrows while they looked for another escape route, but it could also be covered with poison so the victim would die slowly.

In popular folklore, ninja also used special short swords called ninja-ken (or ninja-tō see below for explanation), or "shinobigatana" (Note the avoidance of the term 'ninja', but inclusion of the term shinobi, a synonym). Ninja-ken are smaller than katana but larger than wakizashi. The ninja-to was often more of a utilitarian tool than a weapon, not having the complex heat treatment of a usual weapon. Another version of the ninja sword was the shikoro ken (saw sword). The shikoro ken was said to be used to gain entry into fortresses. The shikoro ken supposedly could also be used to cut (or saw) through opponents. The ever popular sai, or three-pronged dagger is also associated with ninja.

Nunchaku use

The issue of ninja using nunchaku is controversial. Some profess that there is no evidence that nunchaku were used by the ninja, and there is no mention in any record of them using one, though their records are filled with references to other weapons. Obviously, this can be assumed to represent that no nunchaku were used by the Ninja. However, much like the kunai (see above) this adapted agricultural tool would integrate well in a ninja disguise. The weapons and tools used by successful ninja are subject to speculation, as the arts of stealth, cunning, and assassination preclude records being kept of nunchaku use or non-use.

Specialized weapons and tactics

Ninja also employed a variety of weapons and tricks using gunpowder. Smoke bombs and firecrackers were widely used to aid an escape or create a diversion for an attack. They used timed fuses to delay explosions. Ōzutsu (cannons) they constructed could be used to launch fiery sparks as well as projectiles at a target. Small "bombs" called metsubushi (目潰し, "eye closers") were filled with sand and sometimes metal dust. This sand would be carried in bamboo segments or in hollowed eggs and thrown at someone, the shell would crack, and the assailant blinded. Even land mines were constructed that used a mechanical fuse or a lit, oil-soaked string. Secrets of making desirable mixes of gunpowder were strictly guarded in many ninja clans. Other forms of trickery were said to be used for escaping and combat. Ashiaro are wooden pads attached to the ninja's tabi (thick socks with a separate "toe" for bigger toe; used with sandals). The ashiaro would be carved to look like an animal's paw, or a child's foot, allowing the ninja to leave tracks that most likely would not be tracked. Also a small ring worn on a ninja's finger called a shobo would be used for hand-to-hand combat. The shobo would have a small notch of wood used to hit assailant's pressure points for sharp pain to sometimes cause temporary paralyzation. (see pressure points). A suntetsu is very similar to a shobo. It could be a small oval shaped piece of wood affixed to the finger by a small strap. The suntetsu would be held against a finger (mostly middle) on the palm-side and when the hand was thrusted at an opponent, the longer piece of wood would be used to hit the pressure points.

Myths of Ninja

There are many myths and legends concerning ninja, who were most prevalent during Japan's feudal era and often served daimyo, or feudal lords, for secret missions. Their special abilities are also often exaggerated, such as becoming invisible, multiplying themselves, turning into animals, jumping over buildings, the ability to fly, stick to the walls and foresee the future. These myths were caused by the secretive nature of ninja, and confusion with Tengu and yamabushi. The myth of these abilities was much stronger when they were on operations and demonstrated them as if they were real powers such as the multiplication ability in which one ninja, if discovered, would make a special move and his fellow ninja mates would aid him and then disappear. The ninja often encouraged rumors to make people believe they had magical powers so they would become extraordinary figures. At least one ninja was recorded to have faked his own death so people would think he was a ghost and therefore immortal.

Ninja in fiction

Ninja appear in both Japanese and Western fiction. Depictions range from realistic to the fantastically exaggerated.

Ninja have long been a popular subject in tokusatsu, anime and manga.

The Japanese novelist, Ryotaro Shiba wrote a novel and a collection of short stories, based on ninja, Fukuro no Shiro and Saigo no Igamono. Fukuro no Shiro was made into a hit movie, as was Shinobi no Mono.

Ninja-based films and books became a popular culture craze in Japan during the 1950s and early 1960s and as a result a TV series called The Samurai was created in 1962 to cash in on the fad. Although only seen in Japan and a few other countries, the series was notable for its screening in Australia in 1964-65, as it was the first Japanese TV show ever broadcast there. The Samurai rapidly became one of the most popular programs ever screened on Australian TV, gaining a large audience among pre-teen children; its success even led to star Ose Koichi and a troupe of performers touring there in a specially-produced show in 1966. The series introduced the ninja concept to Australian audiences and the ninja soon became a cult favourite, with children dressing up as ninjas and making their own toy ninja weapons, notably the shuriken or "throwing stars". Several American ninja movies starring Sho Kosugi were released in the 1980s as well. Kosugi is to be in the upcoming movie The Return of the Ninja, which is to be released in 2006. Sam Firstenberg's American Ninja, a low budget movie released in 1985, was undoubtely the most successful flick in the genre produced by an American company, Cannon. Former model Michael Dudikoff, who played the lead character Joe Armstrong, was dubbed as "the James Dean of the Ninja movies". The story depicts the adventures of an amnesiac soldier who discovers to have received ninja training when was a child. Eventually, he will use his "capacities" against a drug lord in the Philippines. The movie proved to be a smash hit, and spawned four sequels: American Ninja 2: The Confrontation; American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt where Dudikoff was replaced by David Bradley; American Ninja 4: The Annihilation which paired down Dudikoff and Bradley and, finally, the straight-to-video American Ninja 5, a spin-off aimed to children. Today, the first two American Ninja are regarded as cult classics.

Perhaps the first cinematic mixing of two martial arts 'worlds' occurs in the Hong Kong movie "Ninja in the Dragon's Den" in which a young Ninja flees to China - both to evade the revenge of the clan he's betrayed and to seek one of the men he believes responsible for his father's death - and encounters a young Kung fu fighter in combat.

Western popular culture generally depicts the ninja as supremely well-trained martial artists and assassins, clad in a head-to-toe black or dark blue suit, using many kinds of exotic equipment and skills to accomplish their missions. Western fascination with the ninja bloomed in the 1980s, especially in the United States. The idea of a Westerner being granted entry to the secret ranks of the ninja has long been a subject of particular fascination for Western writers. For example, The Ninja (1980) series of thriller books by Eric Van Lustbader features a half-Japanese, half-Caucasian character who received ninjutsu training in his youth. According to Lustbader's website, The Ninja is seriously being considered to be made into a movie.

When G.I. Joe, a traditional American series of military action figures, was relaunched in the 1980s, the collection included a few ninja characters such as Snake-Eyes, a Vietnam war veteran who studied the ninja arts after the death of his family, and Storm Shadow, a member of a clandestine ninja clan. The massive popularity of the ninja characters completely overtook the more conventional army characters, and creator Larry Hama was pressured by Hasbro to create more ninja for the series.

In video games

In fighting games, ninja are typically quick to strike but lacking in power or defense. One of the most successful games ever on the Commodore 64 computer was The Last Ninja developed by System3. In the Nintendo Entertainment System and Xbox games titled Ninja Gaiden, the player takes the role of Ryu Hayabusa, a ninja whose clan has been savagely murdered. Mortal Kombat, one of the most popular fighting games ever created, included several ninja-like characters with supernatural powers which seem to have been exaggerated from ninjutsu-related techniques or literature. In a similar game called Soul Caliber II, there is a character named Taki which can use a skill that gamers call the ninja cannon where Taki jumps high into the air then lands a distance away, an obvious exaggeration of ninjutsu. In Street Fighter: 3rd Strike, there is a girl-ninja by the name of Ibuki. In the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI it is possible to get a new job as a Ninja. With this job you get more magic (known as Ninjutsu in game) and also the ability to duel wield weapons.

Ninja in popular culture

There have been many films with ninja-related subject matter, such as Surf Ninjas, Beverly Hills Ninja, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 3 Ninjas, and three popular websites: Real Ultimate Power (which includes a subsequent book), Ninja Burger (which was made into an RPG, card game and book), and Ask A Ninja, (which features weekly podcasts themed at asking ninja-based questions). There has also been an animutation entitled "Holy Shit! Ninjas