Shinobi

Shinobi

           Today, when people think of the shinobi, more commonly known as ninjas, they first think of a black hooded figure running swiftly across a rooftop.  After jumping off the roof they may break into a home, sneak up on a victim, and end their life right then and there.  This is how we typically view ninjas to be, but what is really the history behind them?

           Japanese folklore states that the shinobi descended from a demon that was half human and half crow, however, history shows that they more likely developed from "samurai gone bad".  The fighting styles of the shinobi most likely came to Japan by ways of Chinese monks in about 1020.  The first ninjas were said to be Daisake Togakure and Kain Doshi.  Daisake was a samurai during the 12th century, but after losing a battle and refusing to perform seppuku (which was against bushido), he fled his home and never returned.  In about 1162 however, he met Kain, a Chinese monk with whom he developed the guerrilla warfare fighting style known as ninjutsu.  The first school was built up in the mountains by Daisake's descendants; it was called Togakureryu. 

           The main difference between samurai and ninjas is the absence of the samurai code of bushido, which basically states that honor and loyalty come before all else in battle.  Samurai would enter battle wearing brightly colored robes in order to represent what family they were apart of.  He would then single out an opponent, annouce his challenge along with his history as a fighter, and then attack.  The shinobi on the other hand solely cared about completing their assignment by any means necessary.  This could mean that the ninja used either poison, seduction, or sneak attacks to eliminate opponents; things a samurai would never do.  Unlike samurai, women could be kunoichi, a female ninja.  These women usually carried out missions using more disguise tactics, such as infiltrating an enemy castle as a servant or a dancer. 

            Because samurai lords could not taint their honor and loyalty, they would often hire ninjas to perform tasks in battle.  Economically the system worked well since the often wealthy samurai lords would pay the low class ninja very well, which distributed money nicely.  Samurai liked using ninja on their side in battle, but at the same time also feared them since someone else could hire one to be used on them.

            The tradition that ninja wore all black with only their eyes showing is actually untrue, they just used that in kabuki theater.  Ninjas would wear clothes that made them blend in with their enemies for missions during the day, but would wear navy blue outfits in night missions.  For weapons, the shiboni used shinobigatana, bo, naginata, shuriken, shuko, and tessen.

            In today's world, do you think honorable fighting should still take place?  Or is getting the job done by any means necessary more important?