Who are the Ninja? Japan's Shadow Warriors Emerging from the Mist
Who are the Ninja? Japan's Shadow Warriors Emerging from the Mist
Introduction: The true identity of the "NINJA" admired by the world
When you hear the word "ninja," what comes to mind?
Dressed in black, wielding shuriken and disappearing with smoke bombs... Such images are spreading all over the world.
However, real ninjas were not such flashy figures. They were information warfare professionals who survived the chaos of the Warring States period and were behind-the-scenes figures.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at the origins of ninjas, their exploits during the Sengoku period, their transformation during the Edo period, and their cultural heritage that continues to this day, using historical facts and legends.
Chapter 1: The Origin of the Ninja: Shadow Techniques Born from Shugendo
There are various theories about the origin of ninjas, but one of the most popular is that they originated from practitioners of Shugendo, or mountain ascetics.
Shugendo is a uniquely Japanese religious system that combines Shinto, Buddhism, and Onmyodo. Through rigorous training in the mountains, practitioners acquired physical abilities, knowledge of medicinal plants, gunpowder, astronomy, geography, and more.
It is believed that these Shugendo practitioners later became "ninja" and took on the roles of espionage and infiltration. Iga (Mie Prefecture) and Koga (Shiga Prefecture) in particular are known as training grounds for Shugendo and are famous as the birthplace of ninjutsu.
People who are considered to be the roots of the ninja
• Prince Shotoku and Shinobi: There is a legend that during the Asuka period, Prince Shotoku employed a spy in a dispute with a political rival and gave him the position of "Shinobin."
• Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Mount Kurama: The anecdote that Yoshitsune trained on Mount Kurama at the end of the Heian period also leads to the theory that he is the ancestor of the ninja.
• The Chinese book on military strategy, The Art of War: It is said that the ideological origin of ninjutsu was influenced by ancient Chinese military strategy.
Chapter 2: The Sengoku Period: The Golden Age of Ninjas
During the Sengoku period of the 15th and 16th centuries, Japan entered a period of chaos as many warlords fought for power.
During this period, the value of information increased dramatically, and ninjas became indispensable to the Sengoku daimyo.
Ninja duties and techniques
Ninja's duties are diverse.
• Espionage: Gathering information on enemy movements and military information • Sabotage: Destroying arsenals and supply routes • Infiltration and disguise: Entering enemy territory disguised as a merchant or farmer • Communications and messengers: Transporting information across dangerous mountain paths • Escort and assassination: Protecting important people and assassinating them on secret orders
Supporting these was "ninjutsu," a fusion of knowledge and techniques including physical techniques, fire techniques, water techniques, stealth techniques, and psychological manipulation.
Representative Ninjas
• Hattori Hanzo: Born in Iga. He served Tokugawa Ieyasu and led the Iga warriors in intelligence and escort duties.
• Momochi Sandayū: Leader of the Iga school. He was skilled in group tactics and information manipulation.
• Mochizuki Chiyome: A female ninja of the Koga school. She was well versed in medicinal herbs and poisons, and was said to have been useful in gathering information.
Chapter 3: The Edo Period: The Transformation and Documentation of Ninjas
As the Edo period began, the wars subsided and the role of the ninja changed.
As secret agents of the shogunate, they were tasked with gathering information and conducting surveillance, and ninjutsu became systematized and documents were left behind.
Representative ninjutsu books:
• Mansenshukai: A book on Iga-ryu ninjutsu. Contains ninja knowledge, techniques, and organizational theory.
• "Shoninki": A book on Koga-ryu ninjutsu, with an emphasis on psychological warfare and ethics.
Chapter 4: The Ninja Spirit and the Philosophy of "Shinobi"
A ninja is not just someone with skills.
At its core is the spirit of "nin": enduring, remaining unobtrusive, and killing oneself for one's own sake.
This is a unique philosophy that differs from Bushido, and is relevant to modern business and lifestyles.
Chapter 5: Ninja culture living in the modern world
Today, ninjas are loved all over the world as symbols of Japanese culture.
Its appearance continues to evolve through the ages, appearing in movies, anime, games, tourist destinations, and more.
• Pop culture: "NARUTO," "Ninja Hattori-kun," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," etc. • Tourism resources: Iga-ryu Ninja Museum, Koka-no-Sato Ninja Village, etc. • Academic research: Mie University has opened a course on ninja studies, which has attracted international attention.
Conclusion: Ninjas are also "cultural ninjas"
Ninjas are not just warriors.
They are symbols of knowledge that survived on the other side of the times, and are also inheritors of culture.
Its spirit and technology have a universal relevance that is relevant even today, and continue to captivate people all over the world.