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Etymology. The word "ninja" in kanji script. 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).
- Martial Arts & Ninjutsu
- Training
- Ninja Costume
- Ninja Weapons
- Legacy
In medieval Japan, there were no fewer than 18 individual martial arts (bugei or bujutsu). Besides the more familiar ones which are still practised today such as judo, jujutsu and kendo, there were those involving horsemanship and swimming. One of the 18 was the art of the ninja or ninjutsu, which developed during the Edo Period (1603-1868 CE). How...
The earliest approach to ninja training was taken by particular families of samurai warriors who passed on their skills from father or master (sensei) to son. These became the famous ninja families and explain why certain localities established long traditions of producing the specialised warriors. From childhood, a future ninja would learn to ride...
Although no medieval texts actually describe in detail a ninja's outfit, the most usual depiction in Japanese art from the early 19th century CE has them clad all in black. This would seem to be the most obvious colour choice because most of their work was done at night. It is also a convention of Japanese performance arts that a character wears bl...
The main weapon of a ninja was his sword orkatana, perhaps a little shorter and less curved than those used by other warriors as a ninja might find himself in a restricted space like a narrow castle corridor. So as not to impede his movements a ninja typically wore his sword not at the belt but diagonally across his back. The handle guard (tsuba) w...
In the myths and legends which have been written about ninjas since the medieval period, these highly-trained professionals are often given extraordinary, even superhuman abilities. Some writers believed ninjas could fly or transform themselves into creatures like spiders and rats - significantly, those sorts of pests admired for their agility but ...
- Mark Cartwright
Jul 17, 2019 · Japanese folklore states that the ninja descended from a demon that was half man and half crow. However, it seems more likely that the ninja slowly evolved as an opposing force to their upper-class contemporaries, the samurai, in early feudal Japan.
- Kallie Szczepanski
Nov 10, 2023 · Ninjas were the ultimate espionage agents in Japan’s feudal skirmishes. Their air of mystery helped them infiltrate contemporary popular culture.
- Jeanhee Kim
The origin of ninjas can be traced back to the early days of Japan's feudal era , during the 14th century. At the time, Japan was in a state of constant warfare, and various samurai clans were vying for power. In such a chaotic environment, covert operations became an essential part of warfare.
Nov 17, 2023 · First, let‘s tackle the "ninji" connection. As mentioned earlier, Ninji was a Japanese era name running from 1240-1243 CE. This period marked a turbulent time as rival clans fought for supremacy across the islands of Japan. The name "ninji" has nothing to do with ninjas themselves.
The significance of ninjas in Japanese history and their legacy of discipline, adaptability, and resourcefulness continue to be sources of inspiration despite the fact that the facts regarding ninjas are sometimes entangled with mythology.
