Shinobi History and factual knowledge

The last 80+ years has created a lot of misinformation and confusion about the ninja. Much has been
exploited and its character used to sell books and movies. From bad guys to dark, shadowy figures,
magical wizards and anti-hero types, its image was used and has fascinated the world around.

The Ninja, or more properly Shinobi, were first recorded in the 13 th Century. The word for Shinobi, which
is a sword atop of a heart, was used to denote many things. The Japanese language is a poetic one and
so its meaning meant various philosophical renderings. “steal-in”, and “perseverance”, are literal
translations, but in modern English parlance, to steal in would be better described as ‘infiltration’, and
also enduring many challenges, or stoicism. It would require nerves of steel, or a ‘heart of steel’ to do
the type of work that the ninja, or Shinobi were renown for.

The shadowy figure of the Shinobi rose to prominence in Japan due to the many wars and many years of
continuous strife and civil wars the small Nation in the South Pacific Sea had endured. Clans fighting
Clans for local, regional dominance, to petty feuds, and greed, and also others who sought to bring the
entire nation under one rule. The people of Japan were like any other worldly power of peasantry,
farmers, craftsmen, and vendors, all protected by a Lord and his retinue of warriors, or Samurai. These
Samurai, or ‘servants’ did not act or train for their own purpose, but rather for the service of their lord,
and waged war according to his decree. Each Clan had its own Samurai, and depending on its successes
in combat would determine its wealth. In the Province of Iga, a mountainous range south of the capital
of Kyoto, lived various families which operated in the region and had their own Samurai, but due to the
regions general isolation they mostly lived independently and therefore were also not the wealthiest
Clans which made it nearly impossible to have a full time service of Samurai, but instead had those who
during times of peace would go back to farming, and woodworking, etc. These were called Jizamurai,
and formed more of a part-time soldier.

After many wars and many lives lost, the people of Iga were introduced to new methods of warfare.
These Methods would allow them to operate without direct risk of war; Methods of shadowy warfare,
and unconventional methods, and espionage. This became the legendary warriors we know today as
Ninja! Masters of intelligence gathering, and guerrilla warfare, the people of Iga would use their new
found knowledge to secure alliances with much larger Clans who would politically afford them protection
and payment. Since the people of Iga were generally outnumbered, it made no sense to wage
conventional war being outnumbered sometime 20-1.

Their valuable knowledge and skills would allow a Daimyo, or warlord to foresee the enemy’s plans and
even influence it in his favour. Extremely valuable skills, which were brought from Chinese warriors and
the writings of Sun Tzu’ s Art of War, the Shinobi were nonetheless treated with apprehension and even
fear, and mistrust. Superstition and fear would influence more than one Warlord. This mistrust led to
some Clans to create their own Shinobi forces instead of relying on outside groups who had their own
agendas and alliances.
 Within the Shinobi ‘community’ they did have to contend with rogue Ninja, and those who were seeking
their own fortune for greed, and such, became disowned as Shinobi and a distinction was made between
thieves and the professional spy. The name for such criminals was Nusubito! This distinguished those
who operated for personal gain instead for the better good of their Clan and families. A ninja couldn’t
operate alone, or without an army in support. The Ninja was not a soldier, nor had an army as such that
they could wage war, but instead worked alongside more conventional military and used their skill only
to allow that Clan to have an advantage in Warfare.

Ninja fell out into disrepute with some warlords for fear of their nefarious doings and also what was
seen as lack of loyalty. A cleansing, or sort of holocaust was waged against the people of Iga in the Iga no
ran battle used to stamp out and exterminate the Ninja. The golden age of the Shinobi was over, and
only small pockets of activity were used. It is believed that Shinobi skills were used right up until the
Second World War. Methods of guerrilla warfare and espionage developed at the Nakano School of
warfare by then Emperor of Japan.

The Ninja of medieval Japan are long gone, but their knowledge has been preserved for future
generations in many manuscripts and scrolls such as the famous Bansenshukai, Ninpiden and Shoninki to
name a few. These recordings were only some of the things that made the ninja what they were, and
with knowledge alone, it is not enough; You must develop the skills and even more importantly, the
Kokoro, or heart of steel! These books lend us a glimpse into the world of Shinobi, but you must develop
a steady hand as it were and if the need arises for such knowledge to be used again to help protect
against the enemy, then we shall be ready, or pass it on to future generations.