Culture Spots: Ninja: Nguyễn Thành Nhân 11CA

Nguyễn Thành Nhân 11CA
CULTURE SPOTS: NINJA
Ninjas were professional spies,

infiltrators and assassins who were
valued more for their stealthiness than
fighting ability. Their services were used
mainly in times of war. There were two
main ninja schools: one in Iga Ueno, near
Nara, and another in Koga, Shiga
Prefecture.
According to the Ninja Museum of
Igaryu: “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...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
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."
Prof. Yuji Yamada, 47, an expert on

ninjas at Mie University, told the Yomiuri
Shimbun. “The most important role of
ninja is to collect intelligence. They tried
to avoid fighting as much as possible.
They were required to have good
memories and communication skills first
and foremost, rather than physical
strength...Ninja insisted on having an
existence like a shadow. They
accomplished their duties behind the
scenes and through unofficial
negotiations. They share those
characteristics in common with
Japanese today."
The origins of ninjas is unclear. It is
believed that the ancient ninjas may
have been yamabushi (“mountain
priests”) who adapted the Sonshi, a
Chinese martial arts manual, to their
own purposes. There are references to
ninja-like shonobi in the Asuka Period
(592-710) who were used to infiltrate
enemy territory and described as
"experts in the field of information
gathering” and "masters of stealth and

disguise."
According to the Ninja Museum of
Igaryu: “The 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."
Sun Tzu, the great Chinese military
theoretician, talked the importance and
necessity of deception if you want to win
in war in the 5th century B.C. It is
thought from this belief that the ninja
made its way to Japan. In old Japanese
fables and stories there are secretive
assassin types.
In the Asuka Period, it is said a man
name Otomono Sahito, who was used by
ruler Shotoku Taishi, gave birth to the
first ninjas. “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.

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Nguyễn Thành Nhân 11CA

CULTURE SPOTS: NINJA

Ninjas were professional spies,

performing espionage and strategy. The

Prof. Yuji Yamada, 47, an expert on

gathering” and "masters of stealth and

extremely hilly, narrow geography,

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