The History of the Ninja

BLACK-CLAD
ASSASSINS
by Dean Poisso - Illustrations by Carlo Arellano and Jeremy Jarvis
B
lack-clad assassins, masters of stealth
and deception, martial artists of
extraordinary skill-all of these come to mind
when envisioning the ninja.
Ninja are a part of our pop culture, and
they are often portrayed in highly dramatic
and often unrealistic ways. But the mystique
of the ninja is more than mere legend; it is a
tradition with roots that stretch back for
centuries and continue to this day.
Origins of the Ninja
Most people relate to the ninja through the
Hollywood stereotype, but the ninja's roots
are much more humble. In fact, the first
ninja didn't even go by their familiar name.
Most historians agree that the ninja
evolved from refugees of the T'ang dynasty
in China by 500-700 A.D. These refugees
were soldiers, monks, and mystics who
sought a new life where they could practice
their spirituality in isolation. They settled in
the forested mountains of southern and
central Japan and practised their mysterious
arts outside samurai-dominated society,
which frowned greatly on any departure
from the stringent class system it enforced.
The arts of these refugees, which com-
mingled among themselves and the
indigenous families of the region, became a
practice known as shugendo or "way of
supernatural power."
Shugendo taught that by knowing oneself in
relation to the five elements of the universe
- air, fire, wood, metal, and earth - one
would be complete. Its ad-herents were
dubbed yamahoshi (later yama-bushi) or
"mountain warriors."
By 700 A.D. many warriors had come to
train with these "wise men," who had
proven their skill against the incursions of
the Shogunate samurai. These first warriors
had come to integrate the teachings of
shugendo with its rigorous physical and
spiritual training regimen. The practice of
shugendo sharpened their awareness and
honed their focus to a fine edge. They
learned new and unorthodox weaponry like
the chain, axe, and halberd. Shugendo also
brought them a spiritual center from which
all their other skills flowed; they believed
that knowing the intrinsic nature of the five
elements within enabled them to conquer
without. It could be argued that these men
were the first ninja.
These early ninja returned to their homes
during the relatively peaceful Heian period
of Japan (794-1156 A.D.). They passed on
their knowledge within family-run schools
called "ryu." It was here that the techniques
of the yamabushi achieved greater refine-
ment. Some of these ryu became the
foundation from which the principles of
shugendo continued to flourish.
One of the core techniques was called
yamabushi heiho, or "mountain-warrior
warfare." Radically different from the
samurai form of open-field combat,
yamabushi heiho stressed guerilla warfare,
hit-and-run tactics, and stealth over strength.
Its success was proven over decades against
the sporadic incursions of samurai into
yamabushi territory. As the yamabushi's
numbers dwindled due to attrition, there
arose among the warriors of the Iga and
Koga provinces those who would eclipse
their yamabushi ancestors in skill, ability, and
renown: the ninja.
The First Ninja Clans
By the Kamakura era (1185-1333 A.D.),
the oppressive and corrupt Shogunate had
provoked many of the lower classes in
isolated areas of Japan to rebel. In the
southern Iga and Koga provinces, several
families made rebellion against the confor-
mity of the Shogunate a deadly art.
The first ninja clans were born and
flourished, with as many as 25 different ryu
in full operation. Many of the clans special-
ized in certain skills such as the fast-drawing
of their blades (iaijutsu) or spear-fighting
(yarijutsu), but all of the families practiced
similar core techniques and philosophies. As
much spiritual as martial, the ninja and their
art, ninjutsu (loosely translated as "the way
of stealth"), became necessary tools in the
volatile political world of Japan.
Among their many activities, the ninja
protected their territory and sometimes
worked with certain elements of the
Shogunate. Espionage and assassination
were valued tools to offset potentially
greater conflicts. Some of the more
powerful feudal clans feared the ninja-and
rightly so, for the ninja were on the rise and
their reputations were well deserved.
Stories of their incredible exploits had
begun to circulate. Some were exaggerated
and others were simply unbelievable, but all
fed the growing mystique of the ninja.
Building the Mystique
By 1467 A.D., the Onin war had ignited an
era of conflict. The Shogunate was in
question. With no clear ruler, Japan
disintegrated into war.
While becoming extraordinarily refined in
precision and skill, the ninja proliferated
throughout the Iga and Koga provinces.
Some attested to as many as 50 or more
ninja clans in Koga alone! Practices within
the two provinces were similar; with such a
high concentration of ninja clans in the area,
cross-pollination of techniques was inevi-
table. The many Koga clans often worked in
concert with their Iga cousins, committing
everything from sabotage to espionage.
The reputation of the ninja became
synonymous with the court intrigues among
the daimyos (feudal lords) of Japan. So
brazen were the ninja that entire clans
began selling their skills to the highest
bidder, wreaking havoc on their patrons'
enemies, although some ninja clans frowned
upon this practice. This mercenary attitude
was so grotesque an affront to samurai
ideals of war (conflicts should be fought in
the open), that the dominant warrior class
reviled the ninja as a whole.
Key Players in History
By 1570 the Shogunate was near final
collapse, and the great General Oda
Nobunaga (1534-1582) made his bid for
absolute power. After destroying the last
remnant of the Ashikaga clan that controlled
the Shogunate, Nobunaga sought to solidify
his hold by gaining control of the Iga
province from rival daimyo Kitabatake
Tomonori. Oda moved his army into the
region and forced Kitabatake to take
Nobunaga's son, Nobuo, as his heir. A mere
two years later, Nobunaga had Kitabatake
assassinated, leaving Nobuo in control. The
Iga ninja immediately plotted revenge,
sabotaging the young daimyo's great castle
and burning it to the ground.
The ensuing battle pitted Nobuo and his
12,000 samurai against an army of guerilla
assassins in their home territory. All 12,000
samurai perished in the numerous strategic
traps laid by the ninja of Iga, although
Nobuo himself escaped. The ninja num-
bered no more than 3,000.
In anger at the dishonor of his son's
defeat and fearful of the ninja whose
defiance had triggered this catastrophe,
Nobunaga spent two years preparing an
army. He personally led 45,000 samurai
against the rebellious ninja. Outnumbered
ten to one and completely surrounded, the
Iga ninja nonetheless made an enormous
impact with their guerilla tactics. By day they
disappeared, allowing Nobunaga a few easy
victories. By night, however, they made their
full impact known, raiding encampments and
killing by stealth. Two of Nobunaga's best
generals lost their heads during the night.
So many samurai died during these raids
that most stopped sleeping altogether for
fear of never waking again.
Nobunaga was left with no choice. He
razed the entire province, slaying innocents,
soldiers, and farmers alike, and even burning
the ground itself to leave nothing for the
ninja. In the final battle upon the slopes of
Mt. Hijiyama, Nobunaga set fire to the
entire mountain and slew all trying to
escape.
Of the 45,000 troops that Nobunaga had
marched in with, he left with less than
30,000. The Iga ninja numbered only 4,000.
Even so, the ninja of Iga were scattered to
the winds, taking their deadly skills with
them. Soon after the Battle of Iga,
Nobunaga was assassinated by one of his
own advisors. Legendary ninja Hattori
Hanzo helped daimyo Tokugawa leyasu
unite Japan under one rule. But from this
point on, even though the ninja still existed
in small pockets, the era of the ninja was
slowly on the decline.
"Thought, Word, Deed"
They say a ninja is nothing more than a
person who has been immersed in ninjutsu.
Ninjutsu is more than a martial art. It is a
complex system that stresses the necessity
of taking advantage of every single factor
that leads to victory. In practice, this allows
the ninja to execute acts of extreme danger
and potential ruthlessness without hesita-
tion or strained conviction. The ninja
operated within the gray boundaries
between the moral compass points of good
and evil by necessity. They survived by using
the skills passed down to them - skills honed
to razor precision.
Ninjutsu fostered perseverance and focus
under all circumstances, and since it was
rooted in the early practice of shugendo, it
stressed flexibility, self-mastery, and
attunement with the ebb and flow of
nature. These spiritual practices helped to
cultivate the incredible focus for which the
ninja were renowned. This philosophy took
a practical form on the battlefield, summed
up by the concept of seishin ("purity of
heart," or "completeness"). When a ninja
had achieved seishin, he was ready to
persevere through any ordeal knowing that
his own inner focus was pure of intent. The
ninja credo is "Thought, Word, Deed;" all
endeavors must begin and be completed in
this order to be fully realized.
The Way of Nature
As they progressed in skill and refinement,
the ninjas' philosophy permeated every
aspect of their training. As children they
were trained to develop their balance and
agility. As adolescents they began training in
junan taiso, a rigorous regimen that
promotes incredible levels of natural
flexibility. To act in the way nature acts is
the ultimate physical expression of ninjutsu.
Not just a physical training regimen, junan
taiso also incorporates the knowledge of
the five elements - air, fire, wood, metal, and
earth - as symbolic postures in which to
conduct oneself, especially in combat. To
take the posture of water, the ninja flows
with his opponent, thereby allowing the
opponent to waste his energies upon the
ninja. To take the posture of metal, he
drives aggressively into his opponent,
forceful and unyielding. These concepts are
manifest in the ninja hand positions called
kuji-kiri, which the ninja use as a means of
focusing themselves.
These changing natural postures and their
single-minded focus are what made the ninja
the multi-dimensional warriors they were, in
stark contrast to the stolid style of the
samurai. To the oppressive samurai of feudal
Japan, the ninja represented an entirely
different standard of individual, antithetical
to the samurai ideal.
The culmination of ninjutsu training
evolved to include over 18 other separate
arts. Taijutsu (unarmed combat), yarijutstu
(spear combat), koppojutsu ("the art of
shattering bones"), and meditation were
among the many techniques the ninja
learned in their incredibly rigorous training.
Each ninja ryu typically maintained a similar
core set of arts, but very often they excelled
at one art in particular. Only after mastering
each of these arts was a ninja ready to serve
his clan as a shadow warrior.
The Four Ninja Types
The clans of feudal Japan were extended
families of the same ancestors whose
surnames brought some level of prestige.
The ninja clans were no different, perhaps
lacking the sheer size of the larger samurai
families. At the head of each family or clan
was a daimyo or lord, and all who bore the
family name answered to him (or rarely,
her) without question. There is no higher
loyalty to a ninja than his clan. Clan secrets,
especially concerning ninjutsu, were never
discussed with outsiders. The way of life
during the feudal era required the utmost
secrecy. Death awaited any who broke this
inflexible rule.
Contrary to common belief, ninjas are not
all black-clad assassins. Within the clan
structure there are four different types of
ninja.
Leading the ninja were the jonin. The
jonin were the most experienced and
respected ninja within their clan. They set
the rules of conduct and engagement for all
the ninja within the family. To the clan at
large, the jonin were the heart and soul of
the family. The jonin made all the important
decisions for the clan, and it was the jonin
who steered the course of the clan and its
traditions through the violent political
waters of feudal Japan. The jonin were
usually the only ones who could see the
whole political landscape. They were
without exception very skilled in their own
right, as their position demanded it.
When a jonin had need of his clan's
members, he often turned to the next
ranking members of the clan, the chunin.
The chunin were ninja with uncanny skills in
maintaining the facade of numerous
identities. They maintained the clan training
camps where the ninja foot soldiers dwelt,
and they acted on behalf of the jonin
whenever necessary and with whomever
necessary. The chunin were remarkably
adept at moving through all levels of Japan's
rigid classbased society in order to facilitate
business for the clan. This made them
incredibly important to the clan; it also
made them extremely dangerous.
The ninja most people are familiar with
are the often black-clad genin. The genin
were the soldiers of the clan. They were
trained from birth, raised in isolated
mountain villages, and ingrained with the
concepts of ninjutsu and clan tradition to
the exclusion of all else. This made the genin
fearsome opponents. The singleminded
focus and training of ninjutsu made flesh,
the genin personified the mystique of the
ninja.
The genin might have inhabited the lowest
rung of the clan's hierarchy, yet they
embodied the jonin's will. Their importance
cannot be overstated. The genin were the
ones who executed reconnaissance across
enemy fiefs, assassinated key individuals to
start or stop major conflicts, acted as clan
messengers for their leaders through
enemy-held lands, and performed much of
the espionage for the Shogunate in the later
years of the feudal era. The genin were, in
NINJA
CONCEPTS
Below are some character concepts for the ninja:
Clanless Ninja
Your clan has been destroyed and you seek revenge on those
responsible.
Ninja Agent
You are an agent of the Shogunate or your clan sent to spy
on possible enemies. You keep your identity secret, although
the other PCs might be potential allies on. your mission.
Genin Assassin
You are on a long-term mission to destroy an enemy of your
clan.
Chunin Scout
Sent to find potential recruits, you have your eyes on the PCs
(or maybe a single member of the party).
Kunoichi Spy
You are a kunoichi in the depths of some deep political
intrigue (perhaps as an ambassador) and you need the other
PCs to help you succeed or escape.
Genin/Chinin/Kunoichi Bodyguard
You've been charged to guard a person (perhaps one of the
PCs) or a particular item with your life.
truth, the heart of what it was to be ninja.
Finally, there was the kunoichi, the female
ninja. Female ninja were among the most
successful types of ninja. They were trained
as all the ninja were trained, with an added
emphasis on psychological warfare and
intelligence gathering and transmission.
Because they were women, the kunoichi
could go places no other ninja could dream
of going. They often spelled the difference
between the destruction or longevity of a
ninja clan. As such, they were highly prized.
At least one jonin from the Iga ninja was a
former kunoichi.
The Adventuring Ninja
On the surface, it might appear that playing
a ninja is a lot of work, and it is!
The ninja should not be confused with the
rogue, although the two share similar skill
sets. Ideally, the ninja should be a loyal
member of a large organization (not unlike
rogues), with fealty driven by personal
honor. Commitment means everything to
the ninja. But those with a more indepen-
dent outlook can certainly play clanless ninja.
DMing the Ninja
Like any other character type, the ninja can
be a superb storytelling tool when used
Selecting Ninja Skills and Feats
When building ninja
characters, remem-
ber that ninjutsu is
not a single skill. It is
a system that
incorporates many
skills, some of which
are martial arts unto
themselves. For
example, the Iga and
Koga traditions
included 18 separate
basic skills. These
skills, coupled with
the ancient shugendo
mysticism, are what
make a ninja.
Seishin (spiritual refinement): Knowledge (religion)
Tenmon (weather sensing): Knowledge (nature), Wilderness
Lore
Yarijutsu (fight with spear): Martial Weapon Proficiency
(long spear), Weapon Focus (long spear), Weapon Specialization
(long spear)
Bajutsu (horsemanship): Ride, Mounted Combat, Ride-By
Attack, Trample, Spirited Charge
Shurikenjutsu (art of throwing shuriken): Throw
Anything**, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (shuriken), Weapon Focus
(shuriken), Weapon Specialization (shuriken)
Kusarigama (fight with chain weapons): Exotic
Weapon Proficiency (chain or spiked chain), Weapon Focus (chain
or spiked chain), Weapon Specialization (chain or spiked chain)
Hensojutsu (art of disguise and impersonation): Bluff,
Disguise
Shinobi Iri (stealth and methods of infiltration): Hide,
Move Silently, Streetwise*, Knowledge (politics)**
Bojutsu (fight with staff): Weapon Focus (staff), Weapon
Specialization (staff)
Naginatajutsu (fight with halberd): Martial Weapon
Proficiency (halberd), Weapon Focus (halberd), Weapon Specializa-
tion (halberd)
B-Ryaku (war and mission strategy): Knowledge (war and
tactics)***
Cho Ho (intelligence gathering and espionage): Diplomacy,
Gather Information, Streetwise*
Intonjutsu (art of escape and concealment): Escape
Artist, Hide
Ninja Ken (fight with sword): ExoticWeapon Proficiency
(ninja-to), Weapon Focus (ninja-to), Weapon Specialization (ninja-to)
Kayakujutsu (using explosives and fire): Alchemy
Trijutsu (art of unarmed combat): Improved Unarmed
Strike, Weapon Focus (unarmed strike), Fists of Iron**, Improved
Grapple***, Stunning Fist***, Unbalancing Strike***, Pain Touch**
* FORGOTTEN REALMS Campaign Setting ** Sword and Fist *** Oriental Adventures
correctly. The key is giving the ninja the
background and support structure that
allows them to act true to their character.
Ninja do not exist in a vacuum and rarely
work alone. They almost always answer to a
higher authority whose motives transcend
the power level of most, if not all, PCs in the
campaign. Typically, this higher authority is a
ninja clan, but if the PC is a rare lone ninja,
she could be a local daimyo.
The lone ninja is either highly skilled or a
specialized character. Be sure to integrate
these characters with the group-perhaps
there's an alliance between the ninja's clan
and the PCs' families, or perhaps the PCs
are all ninja.
Ninja NPCs should be dynamic. If they
are foes of the party, have them employ
unpredictable tactics. Ninja are masters of
subterfuge, so they should make fearsome
enemies.
If your NPC ninja are allies, keep in mind
that an NPC ninja will probably keep his
identity secret unless he's traveling with
other ninja. This doesn't mean he won't be
effective at achieving his mission, just that
he'll be subtle and utilize his skills behind the
scenes without the PCs' awareness.
Playing a Ninja
Ninja are not simply assassins or thieves.
The ninja is a person with grave responsibili-
ties. She is someone who usually belongs to
a family, clan, or cause and remains true to
that loyalty to the bitter end. In a word,
ninja are people of intent. Ninja employ
subterfuge and guile cloaked within a
multitude of techniques, but always with the
intent of accomplishing their goal, first and
foremost.
As a ninja, everything you do should have
a purpose. This does not mean that
everything you do must be known. It means
that when being pursued, you should
distract your pursuers from the intent of
your mission. It also means that when
pursuing an adversary, you should distract
that adversary into presenting the most
advantageous target for you to strike. Ninja
are extremely patient, after all.
Above all, remember: Ninja have a sense
of honor. They are not mindless killers. For
instance, it is a mark of distinction among
the best ninja assassins to kill no one but the
intended target. Slip in, meet your goal, and
slip out. Leave the chaos and carnage to less
refined people.
How you interact with the world outside
of your life as a ninja is extremely important.
You can have cordial relations with others
not of the clan, but you should not reveal
yourself as a ninja unless someone has
proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he
is truly trustworthy-and even then only
under extreme circumstances.
If another PC or NPC discovers your
identity as a ninja, all is not lost. You don't
necessarily have to kill the person just
because he learned who you are. Instead, it
should provide you a great opportunity for
roleplaying with the other PCs. You might
also be able to convince the suspecting
parties that you are not a ninja but a mere
thief.
The preservation of your ninja identity is
something that is very personal. Let your
conscience and alignment dictate the proper
course, but don't ever forget that you're a
ninja and not a common killer. Killing, with
your great array of skills, should always be a
last resort.
NINJA
WEAPONS
From the Player's Handbook From Oriental Adventures
DAGGER BLOWGUN
HALBERD CHAIN
LONGSPEAR FUKIMI-BARI
QUARTERSTAFF KAWANAGA
SHORTBOW KUSARI-GAMA
SHURIKEN NINJA-TO
SHIKOMI-ZUE
SPIKED CHAIN
All of the following are weapons
commonly used by the ninja: