Shinobi Skills: How to Master the Art of Stealth and Infiltration
Shinobi: The Covert Agents of Feudal Japan
When you think of Japan, one of the images that may come to your mind is that of a ninja, a masked warrior dressed in black, wielding a sword and throwing stars, and performing amazing feats of stealth and agility. But who were these mysterious figures, and what was their role in Japanese history and culture? In this article, we will explore the fascinating world of the shinobi, the covert agents of feudal Japan, who were also known as ninja.
shinobi
What is a Shinobi?
A shinobi (忍び) or ninja (忍者) was a covert agent, mercenary, or guerrilla warfare expert in feudal Japan. The functions of a shinobi included siege and infiltration, ambush, reconnaissance, espionage, deception, and later bodyguarding and their fighting skills in martial arts, including ninjutsu. Their covert methods of waging irregular warfare were deemed dishonorable and beneath the honor of the samurai. Though shinobi proper, as specially trained warriors, spies, and mercenaries, appeared in the 15th century during the Sengoku period, antecedents may have existed as early as the 12th century.
The Origin and Meaning of the Term
The word "ninja" is the on'yomi (Early Middle Chinese-influenced) reading of the two kanji "忍者". In the native kun'yomi reading, it is pronounced shinobi, a shortened form of shinobi-no-mono (忍びの者). The word shinobi appears in the written record as far back as the late 8th century in poems in the Man'yōshū. The underlying connotation of shinobi (忍) means "to steal away; to hide" andby extension"to forbear", hence its association with stealth and invisibility. Mono (者) means "a person". Historically, the word ninja was not in common use, and a variety of regional colloquialisms evolved to describe what would later be dubbed ninja. Along with shinobi, these include monomi ("one who sees"), nokizaru ("macaque on the roof"), rappa ("ruffian"), kusa ("grass") and Iga-mono ("one from Iga"). In historical documents, shinobi is almost always used. Kunoichi (くノ一is, originally, an argot which means "woman"; :p168 it supposedly comes from the characters くノ一 (respectively hiragana ku, katakana no and kanji ichi), which make up the three strokes that form the kanji for "woman" (女).
The Roles and Functions of a Shinobi
A shinobi had two main roles: as an assassin and as a spy to gather intelligence on enemy movements and plans. For both, they employed disguises and learnt the art of deception. The real identity of successful shinobi was, of course, concealed to ensure their own safety and continued usefulness in future operations. Shinobi were also used as forward scouts and to generally cause as much disruption as possible behind enemy lines during nighttime commando raids.
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Shinobi were mainly hired by territorial lords known as daimyōs or by other shinobi. How Did Shinobi Develop Their Skills and Techniques?
The skills and techniques of the shinobi, collectively known as ninjutsu, were not a single martial art, but rather a combination of various disciplines and practices that evolved over time and across regions. Ninjutsu was influenced by Chinese and Indian fighting philosophies, as well as by the native traditions of Japan.
The History of Ninjutsu
The history of ninjutsu is not well-defined, but it is believed to have originated around the 6th century BC. The skills that became ninjutsu began to develop between 600 to 900 AD, and were influenced by Chinese and Indian fighting philosophies. The first known ninja school was formalized by Daisuke Togakure and Kain Doshi around the 12th century. The ninja evolved out of a blend of different ideas and disciplines, including shinobi, the covert agents or assassins of feudal Japan.
Ninjutsu was mainly used as a means of survival and self-defense in the turbulent times of feudal Japan, especially during the Sengoku period (1467-1568), when civil wars and conflicts among warlords were rampant. Ninja were hired by various lords and factions to perform tasks such as siege and infiltration, ambush, reconnaissance, espionage, deception, and later bodyguarding. Ninja were also involved in some of the major events and battles of Japanese history, such as the assassination of Oda Nobunaga, the unification of Japan under Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and the resistance against the Tokugawa shogunate.
The Schools and Regions of Ninjutsu
Ninjutsu was not a centralized or standardized martial art, but rather a diverse and adaptable set of skills and techniques that varied according to the school, region, and individual practitioner. There were many schools (ryu) of ninjutsu, each with its own history, lineage, philosophy, and methods. Some of the most famous schools were Togakure-ryu, Koga-ryu, Iga-ryu, Gyokko-ryu, Koto-ryu, Shinden Fudo-ryu, Takagi Yoshin-ryu, Gikan-ryu, Gyokushin-ryu, and Kumogakure-ryu.
The schools of ninjutsu were often associated with certain regions or provinces of Japan, where they developed their distinctive styles and traditions. The most renowned regions for ninjutsu were Iga and Koga, located in present-day Mie and Shiga prefectures respectively. These regions were home to many ninja clans and families who formed independent confederations that resisted the authority of the central government and the samurai class. They also sold their services as mercenaries and spies to other lords and factions.
Other regions that had notable ninja activity or influence were Yamato (Nara prefecture), Mikawa (Aichi prefecture), Echizen (Fukui prefecture), Kii (Wakayama prefecture), Owari (Aichi prefecture), Shinano (Nagano prefecture), Mino (Gifu prefecture), Kai (Yamanashi prefecture), Musashi (Tokyo prefecture), Sagami (Kanagawa prefecture), Izu (Shizuoka prefecture), Bungo (Oita prefecture), Chikuzen (Fukuoka prefecture), Higo (Kumamoto prefecture), Satsuma (Kagoshima prefecture), and Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa prefecture).
What Kind of Weapons and Tools Did Shinobi Use?
The weapons and tools of the shinobi were diverse and ingenious, reflecting their creativity and adaptability. They used both traditional and improvised weapons, as well as various gadgets and devices to aid them in their missions. Some of their weapons and tools were designed to be concealed or disguised as everyday objects, while others were used to create diversions or illusions. Here are some examples of the weapons and tools that shinobi used:
The Ninjato: The Iconic Short Sword
The ninjato (忍者刀) or shinobigatana (忍刀) was the preferred weapon that the shinobi carried on their back, usually horizontally at a height of around their waist. It is portrayed by modern ninjutsu practitioners as a short sword with a straight blade (similar to a shikomizue) with a square guard. The ninjato was the iconic short sword of the shinobi, often portrayed as having a straight blade with a square guard. The ninjato was typically carried on the back, horizontally at the waist level. The ninjato was not a standardized weapon, but rather a makeshift sword that was often made from common or cheap materials, such as iron or steel. The ninjato was used for close combat, as well as for cutting ropes, bamboo, and other obstacles. Some ninjato also had hidden features, such as a hollow scabbard that could be used as a breathing tube or a blowgun, or a detachable blade that could be used as a dagger.
The Shuriken: The Throwing Stars
The shuriken (手裏剣) or throwing star was another weapon that the shinobi used, mainly for distraction or harassment. The shuriken were small, hand-held metal projectiles that had one or more sharp points. They came in two major varieties: the bo-shuriken (棒手裏剣), which were straight iron or steel spikes, and the hira-shuriken (平手裏剣), which were flat metal discs with four or more points. The shuriken were thrown in various ways, such as overhead, underarm, sideways, or rearwards. The shuriken were not meant to be lethal, but rather to cause pain, injury, or bleeding to the target. They could also be used to hit sensitive areas, such as the eyes, ears, nose, or throat. Some shuriken were coated with poison or dirt to increase their effectiveness.
The Other Weapons and Gadgets
Besides the ninjato and the shuriken, the shinobi also used a variety of other weapons and gadgets to aid them in their missions. Some of these were:
The nunchaku (ヌンチャク), a pair of wooden or metal sticks connected by a chain or