Overview
Everything To Learn About The History Of The Iga Ninja
What Is A Ninja?
A person who uses Ninjutsu is a ninja. Ninjutsu is not a martial art. Ninjutsu is an independent art of warfare that developed mainly in the regions of Iga in Mie Prefecture, and Koka in Shiga Prefecture, Japan.
So, do you know what kind of job ninja were doing?
Most people imagine that ninjas flew through the sky and disappeared, like Superman, waving ninja swords around, sneaking into the enemy ranks and assassinating generals… This is a mistaken image of the ninja introduced by movies and comic books. The jobs of a ninja are divided into the two main categories of performing espionage and strategy. The methodology for performing espionage and strategy is Ninjutsu. Espionage is similar to the job of modern spies, wherein one carefully gathers intelligence about the enemy and analyzes its military strength.
Strategic activities are skills that reduce the enemy’s military power. Ninja did not fight strong enemies by themselves. Ninja fought enemies after they had reduced the enemies’ military power. In times of peace, Ninjutsu was called an art of “entering from afar”, while in times of war, Ninjutsu was called an art of “entering from “nearby”, wherein ninja would constantly gather intelligence concerning the enemy, thinking of ways to beat the enemy, but not fighting the enemy directly. Ninja who thought rationally thought of war by intellect as great, and war by military strength (weapons) as foolish. Therefore, ninja who swing their ninja swords about can be called the lowest of the ninja.
Note: The Ninjutsu of Iga-ryu and Koga-ryu stem from the same source, and are said to be the highest of the Ninjutsu.
Origins Of Ninjutsu
THE ORIGINS OF NINJUTSU
From when did Ninja, who worked in the world of shadows, exist? Those roots are found in the “art of warfare” that began around 4000 B.C. in Indian culture, was passed to the Chinese mainland, and around the 6th century, passed through the Korean peninsula and crossed over to Japan.
In that period, a man name Otomono Sahito, who was used by ruler Shotoku Taishi, is said to be the root of the Ninja.
Have you ever heard something like this? “Shotoku Taishi could hear the words of ten people at once.” Actually, there is also a theory that he used ninja to obtain intelligence beforehand. However, it is still amazing that Shotoku Taishi could remember all that intelligence.
The continental military strategy that was brought from China was developed in conjunction with shugendo, a practice involving mountain training, and adapted to Japan’s extremely hilly, narrow geography, becoming unique Japanese strategy. From this body of strategy emerged Ninjutsu. There were shugen studios in the Iga and Koka regions. Also, the houses of Todaiji and Kofukuji in the Iga region had most of the country’s warriors, and the lords of these houses adopted guerilla-like tactics, and kept the peace by containing one another. From this, Ninjutsu was developed.
THE IGA NINJA REPUBLIC AND “TENSEI IGA WARS”
In Iga of the manorial system period, rulers and lords (guardians) did not last long. Because the people of Iga created living areas by manor in units of clans, formed an organized party of landowning farmers, and did not defer to the control of central regimes, an important 12-member council (representatives) was chosen from among the 50-60 members of the party in Iga, and they maintained safety in Iga by cooperation. This is called the “Iga Sokoku Ikki”.
In the 6th year of Tensei (1578), the ruler of Ise, Kitabatake Nobukatsu (the second son of Oda Nobunaga was adopted by Kitabatake and inherited the reins of the family) planned to attack Iga with Maruyama Castle as base, but retreated in the face of an attack from the troops of Iga. In the 7th year of Tensei (1579), Kitabatake Nobukatsu regrouped and again attacked Iga, but was defeated by the resistance of Iga’s troops. Upon hearing of this (the First Tensei Iga War), Oda Nobunaga was sorely angry, and decided to go to battle himself. In the 9th year of Tensei (1581), he led his 50,000 troops to Iga, burning all of its lands and repeatedly slaughtering adults and children alike. The Iga troops resisted to the end, but a compromise was made, and they submitted. This is the only war in which the Iga region was crippled by attack, and the 800-year manorial system of Iga region was finished, and the ninja were scattered among all lands thereafter (Second Tensei Iga War).
THE THREE IGA NINJA GRANDMASTERS
The most famous group of Iga ninja is Hattori, Momochi, and Fujibayashi. Hattori Hanzo, Momochi Tambanokami, and Fujibayashi Nagatonokami are the three Iga Ninja Grandmasters.
Hattori controlled western Iga. There is a famous person who supported Tokugawa Ieyasu, named Hattori Hanzo Masanari. The Hanzo name was inherited.
Momochi controlled southern Iga. The Oe party had originally prospered in the south, and Momochi was one of the supporting families to it, but joining forces with Hattori and riding its wave of strength, Momochi was able to keep its position until the Edo period.
Fujibayashi controlled northeastern Iga. Fujibayashi Yasutake, the author of traditional Ninjutsu text “Mansen Shukai” was of this group.
Shinobi Literature
THE THREE GREAT BOOKS OF NINJUTSU
Among existing traditional Ninjutsu books, “Mansen Shukai”, “Shoninki”, and “Shinobi Hiden” are called the Three Great Books of Ninjutsu.
Many traditional books were written in the Edo Period, and before that traditions were oral. It is assumed that they were written to pass on traditions and commit them to record. The are traditional texts in which the words “there is an oral tradition” stand out, and this may indicate that oral tradition was of greater importance.
- Mansen Shukai, by Fujibayashi Yasutake, integrated Iga and Koka Ninjutsu, and a few types of copies are passed down in both Iga and Koka.
- Shoninki, by Fujibayashi Masatake, is a traditional text of the Kishu-ryu.
- Shinobi Hiden, by Hattori Hanzo is a traditional text of Iga and Koka.
Iga-Ryu Ninjutsu
MAGIC
Iga-ryu Ninjutsu was skilled in magic. Though Iga was comparatively close to the capital, it hosted many exiles on account of its being situated in a basin surrounded by mountains. Among those exiles, there was a clan descendant from Mononobe Uji, as well as peoples who had crossed over, who were skilled in magic and illusions.
(Here, the definition of magic includes such things as hypnosis and conjuring.)
A representative magic is the art of “Kuji Goshinbo” (nine characters self-protection). Have you seen a ninja making these hand signs in an old ninja movie?
Rin Hyo To Ja Kai Jin Retsu Zai Zen
Mainly, there is the method of making a sign with both hands, with the right index and middle fingers raised to signify a sword, while reciting the nine characters.
The Kuji Goshinbo was used along with the “Inmei Goshinbo” and “Juji no Hijutsu”
- Inmei Goshinbo – Five types of signs were made, including “Josango” and “Renge’in”, while reciting magic spells.
- Juji no Hijutsu – Write ten characters, including “heaven”, “dragon”, and “tiger” on the palm of the hand, and drink and squeeze.
Both of these encouraged mental uniformity, and gave an intense self-suggestion of “being okay”.
SKILLS
One other skill that Iga ninja excelled in was the use of fire. In movies and comic books, have you seen a ninja who has run into trouble explode a smoke bomb and disappear (escape) with the smoke? This sort of skill was actually the one most well-used by the Iga ninja.
Besides smoke bombs, ninja also employed flaming arrows, signal fires, threw flaming arrows, and even used guns. In a time where there were no missiles, there was surely great fear and damage caused by attacking with fire.
This appears to have also developed as a result of having the materials to build explosives nearby, and because people with skills in explosives were in abundance. The art of mixing explosives was a secret among secrets in the tradition of ninjutsu.
MOVEMENT
Ninja espionage is primarily composed of intelligence gathering and message transmission. To do so, a ninja has skills to walk quietly enough to be able to sneak into places, as well as to transmit information quickly.
Here are five representative skills for walking. Each has a different use depending on the situation, but “Kitsune-bashiri” (fox running) and “Shinso Usagi-aruki” (deep grass rabbit walking) both appear to have made no sound:
- “Shinobi-ashi” (quiet feet) – gradually lowering one’s weight to the floor beginning with the small toes
- “Uki-ashi” (floating feet) – lowering the feet from tiptoes
- “Inubashiri” (dog running) – walking on all fours in a place where one cannot stand
- “Kitsune-bashiri” (fox running) – walking on the tips of all fours in a place where one cannot stand
- “Shinso Usagi-aruki” (deep grass rabbit walking) – walking on the backs of hands, carrying the feet in hands
Running skills were for rapidly transmitting information. Ninja were also called “people with fast feet” for their famed speed. For example, the ninja Idaten is said to have been able to run 200km in a single day.
Running fast is possible mainly through training, but there were also secret skills and information for doing so.
Breathing method called “dual breathing”: Breath in a repeated rhythm of “inhale – exhale – exhale – inhale – exhale – inhale – inhale – exhale”. Doing so increases the oxygen ingested, and helps a person to focus and run without thinking of other things. Further, it is important to look far ahead when running. This is to keep the chin down. When the chin goes up, breathing is said to be disturbed.
There is also the method of placing a pickled plum in one’s navel. This is probably a way of self-suggesting that “I can run fast”.
WEIGHT
When people imagine ninja, they often think of “running fast”, or “ability to fight”, or “powerful”, so there is a rather muscular, large image. However, if you think about the following, that mage might change somewhat. Ninja performed espionage in attics and under floors, made deft movements, and practiced camouflage, among other things. These would be tough to do with a large body, wouldn’t they?
Because of their work on roofs, ninja had to constantly have tempered fingers. To train, they are said to have used bales of rice. These bales weighed about 60kg. In other words, to be able to lift 60kg in training is to be able to lift oneself, including hanging from ceilings.
Another thing is that if his name is any indication, Shotoku Taishi’s right hand man Otomono Sahito was probably slim, giving ninja that characteristic. This is because “Sahito” literally means “slim person”.
ESCAPE RUNNING
Because ninjutsu is not a martial art, fighting against an enemy is a last resort, and the shuriken (ninja star) weapon was one method of that self-defense. Since the job of a ninja was to bring back information, there are many skills for escaping.
Here are some of them:
- Fire escape – using fires and explosives (flaming arrows, embedded fires, firecrackers) to confuse the enemy
- Water escape – hiding oneself in water
- Smoke escape – explode a smoke bomb to make a smokescreen
- Metal escape – Using thrown stones or shuriken to escape
- Stealth – hiding in grass (hiding in tree leaves), hiding in shadows (Kannon kakure), pretending to be a stone (uzura-kakure), others
Tools And Equipment
TOOLS/WEAPONS USED BY NINJA
The most famous of the ninja weapons is the shuriken (ninja star), but ninja are said not to have carried it so often. This is because possession of one would give away one’s identity as a ninja if they were stopped for identification and inspection along the way.
Therefore, weapons which could be carried without causing suspicion – farm implements – were used by ninja.
Kama (Sickle)
Farm implement: Tool for grass cutting, rice harvesting
Weapon: Cutting, tying a rope to the handle and using it to climb to high places, other uses
Tebo (Staff)
Farm implement: Tool for taking the grain off rice stalks
Weapon: Swung about as with nunchaku
Gotoku (Trivet)
Farm implement: Used to lift heated iron kettles
Weapon: Used to take the legs out, and the outside edges were sharpened to act as a shuriken
Hibashi (Fire Tongs)
Farm implement: Used to hold hot coals
Weapon: Swinging, throwing
Ryukta Kaginawa (Grappling Hook)
Farm implement: Used to lift dropped items out of wells
Weapon: used to hook an enemy
Ashikagi (Foot Hooks)
Farm implement: Used to walk on slippery surfaces
Weapon: Used to kick, stomp on enemy
Kadoyubi/tekagi (Finger spikes/hand hooks)
Farm implement: Rice harvesting, grass cutting
Weapon: Worn on fingers and used to attack enemy
Other representative items include:
- Makibishi: Sharp items scattered on the road during escape to hamper pursuers
- Kunai: Blade tool used to dig dirt
- Tsubokiri: Two-pronged blade used to open holes in the ground
- Shikoro: Blade used to cut trees
The shuriken, a representative ninja weapon, includes both flat and cylindrical varieties.
Being of various shapes, there are types with four, five, six, seven, or eight sides.
Also, the tip of a sword is short and thus it cannot inflict a fatal wound, but its power to kill could be enhanced in such ways as placing poison on the tip.
There were also others, such as placing a slow match on a flat shuriken to throw at the enemy, metal cones for putting with flat shuriken to throw, or to hold in one’s hand and wound the enemy. However, if one walked about with these, they would look suspicious, so ninja often used pegs and sewing needles for the same purposes.
Blow Darts: Using these to shoot from the cracks of doors, etc., this was an optimal weapon for a ninja who wished to hide himself. Blow darts were normally used for hunting and other purposes, but since the long tubes would arouse suspicion, they used blow tubes as flutes, etc. to avoid detection.
Needles: Besides using these for sewing fabric, ninja also heated needles in fire and floated them on water to magnetize them, or used them as weapons such as darts, and even used them for medical self-treatment. Needles were thus used in a wide variety of ways. And since they could be held without arousing suspicion, needles could be said to be the most useful of all tools to the ninja.
CLOTHING
Ninja clothing was made to be light and prevent the wearer from being noticed. Black ninja clothing is often seen in movies, but there was actually no jet-black clothing. Jet-black would cause the form to stand out in the light of the moon, so a dark navy blue dying method was usually used. This navy blue dye fulfilled a function of being a sort of viper pattern, much like the rattlesnake-like pattern in the color of jeans.
Shinobi Diet
FOODS EATEN
For health, ninja avoided meat, fish, dairy foods, and sugars in favor of a diet centered on whole-grain rice and vegetables. Also, to avoid being detected when sneaking or hiding, they avoided foods that might lead to body odor. However, they did not avoid these foods completely, but seem to have eaten some foods for strength as well.
Main Foods:
- Millet, whole-grain rice, wheat, other grains, potatoes
- Mushrooms, mulberries, oleaster, chestnuts, sweet chestnuts, nutmeg, and pine nuts.
- Quail eggs
Food Carried During Travel
“Thirst ball” – helped hold back thirst. This was made from crushed plum pulp, put with rye ergot (a fungus that grew on grass) and crystallized sugar, and made into a ball.
“Hunger ball” – helped hold back hunger. This was made with carrots, buckwheat flour, wheat flour, yam, licorice root, and rice flour which was steeped in sake for three years. When the sake had dried, the mixture was balled in about the size of a peach pit and ready for use.
FINAL NOTES
As a send off i would like to personally thank my dad for being japanese and allowing me to speak on ninja ♥♥♥♥ because of my japanese heritage. Secondly i want to thank the random japanese website i found which had the majority of this info (i do believe there is a second english based website with similar info). And Lastly i would like to thank myself for taking the time to translate most of the ♥♥♥♥ I had used as well as avoiding university work to make this guide. I also wanna thank the people who read the guide and have since become grandmaster shinobi.
As an asian woman obv this subject meant a lot to me and i want to continue carrying the true ninja origins on vs random weeb ♥♥♥♥ like Big Titty Ninja Girls or something. Obv in asia its very rare to find someone with big tits so i am grateful for finding my korean girlfriend who in turn has big bewbs. Anyways i am now done making jokes and will leave you with a parting gift.
As a certified asian i find this both offensive but also hilarious. Thank you!!