THE NINJA OF ANCIENT JAPAN:

Origins:

Of Japan before the fifth century little is known. It was then in the 400s that Chinese scholars were invited over and began to instruct the Japanese in writing and Chinese styles of art and architecture as well as Chinese methods of war. Between the 5th and 8th centuries Japanese culture as we know it today began to develop. The last development came between the 8th and 10th centuries when Japanese warriors who since the 500s wore armour and carried weaponry that were similar to those of Chinese and Korean soldiers, began to develop their own distinctive military ware and code of ethics to become what was to be one of the most ferocious warrior classes of medieval times. The samurai.

By the early medieval period Japan was divided up among many warlords known as Daimyo . Each daimyo ruled over huge armies of his own samurai, all of whom obeyed their lord with the upmost loyalty. According to the Japanese military code of honour known as Bushido (which means 'the way of the warrior'), each samurai was expected to be ever loyal to his master and to his companions without question. He was to hold his life and even the life of his family in contempt. he would if ordered fight to the death and even take his own life or again if ordered even kill his own wife and children with out hesitation. (One story is told of a samurai who learning that his lord's son was in danger placed his own son into the hands of his lord's enemies, saving his lord's son but delivering his own to certain death.). A samurai was expected to follow his own master's orders even if they were morally wrong. Even if, according to the 18th century military philosopher, Yamamoto Jucho , it meant following his master to hell itself.

But the code of Bushido was also was a code of respect and fairplay, if only towards samurai. No samurai was suppost to kill another in cold blood and many samurai were reluctant to engage in various aspects of warfare which they regarded as cowardice even if it meant disobeying their lord. Such areas of warfare such as spying and assassination and other forms of covert warfare were regarded as distasteful to many samurai.

So many daimyo began to look elsewhere for their spies and assassins.

The Eta:

Among the more remoter areas of Japan particularly in mountainous regions of Iga and Koga, lived the outcasts of Japanese society, the Eta. (who would eventuality become known as the Burakumin, the more collective outcasts of Japan .)

According to the great Chinese classic 'The Art of War' written by Sun Tzu , covert war was by far the most important and convient way to wage war. Daimyo who were familiar with the writtings of Sun Tzu, began to hire the Eta to do the work their warriors so dispised. By the 14th century, these outcasts have developed into secert societies of covert mercenaries skilled in armed and unarmed combat.

As early as the 12th century the Iga inhabitents must have had a fearful rebutation in war. An when a challenge is offered to a dual during this period a reply is recorded. "I am not a great man as great men go, but I am from Iga." Iga and Koga were to become area notorious for being the great home of Ninjitsu.

The use of Ninja:
Ninja were basically used for covert work. This includeed assassination, spying and involtration of enemy fortifications, and even were used as bodyguards or 'anti~ninja ninja'.

Assassination:

The job ninja are most associated with. Ninja would be hired by daimyo to kill of their cheif enemies. To do this ninja would usually try to carry out the assassination outside the fortification of their target. Missiles such as arrows and in the 16th century firearms were used for this. Close quarter killings were much riskier since a lord would be usually surrounded by associates or bodyguards who could thwart the assassination attempt. Sometimes female ninja known as kunoichi would be employed to try and have their targets relax their guard.

The poisoning of food was another favourite method. This however would sometimes mean involtraition of a premises, usually in the guise of a servant or cook.

Spying:

This was a very common use for ninja. Spying would obviously mean the use of disguise. Ninja would use their knowledge of body language to help in this field. and sometimes would resort to blackmail to obtain information. Disguise was also used by Ninja when travelling to a distination. Wandering warrior monks, known as Yamabushi, masterless samurai, known as Ronin, were both favourite disguises, since this meant not having to conseal weapons. Travelling Acrobats and wandering musicians knowen as Toriai were also favourite inpersonia.

Invotraition of an enemy fortification:

The image with which the ninja is closely associated with. Ninja would involtrait a castle for a number of reasons, spying, assassination, to steal certain documents or even to bring down a castle. Ninja would usually try to enter a castle disguised as a servant or guard. (Dark clothes and headscarf were very rarely worn.) Usually ninja would break in at night by scaling the high walls. To do this, a ninja would have to be quite skilled at climbing and sneaking and even have a high degree of acrobatics.

Ninja would also have to be able to remain still hiden in uncomfortable possessions for long periods of time.

Large scale involtraition was used in the opening of the castle to an enemy. A favourite tactic of the ninja, this was known as ' Rappa '. Ninja would bluff their way into a be~seiged fort possing as re~enforcements, wearing armour and carry banners identical to those in the fort.

When inside the fort the ninja at a pre~arranged signal would cry out the warcry of the fort they were about to bring down and begin killing troops and burning buildings. With identical uniforms and warcries, the fight would turn into a 'free for all', with only the ninja knowing who was who. When a suitable state of confusion and damage had been done, the ninja would open the gates to let in the be~seigning forces.

Bodyguards or 'Anti ninja ninja':

After a time ninja would be hired as bodyguards, quite often in disguise. Ninja guarding a great lord would be disguised as servants in his castle, as well as courtesans, or as monks accompanying a lord on a pilgrimage.

Again ninja would be hired to guard camps or castles by lying in long grass hiden in bushes waiting to entrap enemy ninja that would try to enter the castle. Such ninja were known as ' Kusa', which simply means 'grass'.

Ninja Weapons and Techinques:

Ninja weapons were designed to be portable, easy to hide and easy to carry. Ninja would have to travel a great deal and always in disguise. Ninja carried and used a vast variety of weapons. The ninja sword, the ninjato, was shorter than the samurai sword, making it not only easier to hide but was suited to the narrow corridors of the castles they were involtraiting better than the samurai sword. Another favourite weapon was the nanchuku, two small metal bars attached to either end of a small chain. This could be consealed in a hollow staff. Shirken (small metal star shaped throwing objects), which were very inaccurate, were also used to slow down pursuers, rather than to kill.

Ropes and rope ladders were also used by ninja to scale high walls, while small smoke bombs could be used to blind pursuers.

Famous Ninja :

Hattori Hanzo:
Born in 1541, in Iga, Hanzo was the leader of the warlord Tokugawa Ieyasu's own personal army of Ninja. Best remembered for his famous night raid on Udo Castle . Hanzo died in 1596. His ninja about 300 in all, also served as guards in Tokugawa's castle in Edo. Hanzo no Mon, or the Hanzo Gate, which bears his name still stands today at Edo castle.

Kotaro Kazama:

Associated with the Rappa tactic, Kotaro was known for his huge stature and ugly appearence. During the 1580s Kotaro worked for the Hojo family. He is best remembered for his night raids against the warlord Takeda Katsuyori in the year 1580.

Mitsuyoshi Yagyu:

Mitsuyoshi was not really a ninja but a samurai, however he is believed by some historians to have been involved in some undercover and fact finding missions.

Ichikawa Goyemon:
In reality just a bandit, Ichikawa is however according to folklore did have a certain knowledge of Ninjitsu, tempting to believe since this 16th century highwayman, lived close to Iga. Ichikawa was eventually caught and boiled alive in oil.

Yamamoto Takeru:

This legendary Japanese hero dispatched two of his fathers enemies by disguising himself as a woman and stabbing them in the back. This story was recorded in the year 714, long before the days of the ninja, However according to Japanese folklore Yamamoto was the soul founder of Ninjitsu.

The Sada Brothers:

These three brothers who lived in the area of Iga were accomplished ninja and in old age instructed younger members in various aspects of ninjitsu.

A story is told of how one of the Sada brothers dared any of his students to sneak into his home during the night and take the sword from beneath his pillow. That night one young ninja crept into Sada's garden, intent on taking the sword. However it wasn't long until he became aware he was being watched, so he quickly abandoned his mission and left. The next morning Sada approached and questioned the student who had infiltrated his property the night before. The student asked how Sada became aware of his presence. Sada informed him that all the crickets in the garden became silent, therefore implying an intruder. Sada then asked the student how did he know he was being watched. The student answered that he had been bitten by a mosquito. Sada did not understand, so the student reminded him that in order to leave his futon (matress), to investigate he would have lifted the insect net, to get out, thereby disturbing the mosquitoes resting on it.

Famous Ninja missions:

The Invasion of Korea :

In the year 1592 Tomotomi Hideyoshi had his forces invade Korea with a detachment of ninja. Although the invasion was a failure, the ninja fared well, their most dramatic hour being in aiding regular troops in the taking of the heavily fortified Chiguju Castle.

The ninja who numbered about 50 set fire to the rear of the castle launching a surprise attack on the defenders, possibly useing their rappa tactics, while the main Japanese army attacked from the front. Within hours the castle fell to the Japanese troops.

The Siege of Osaka Castle :

In the year 1614 the Tokugawa clan who had been Shoguns since 1603, laid seige to Osaka Castle , owned by Toyotomo Hideyori, son of the Tokugawa,s old enemy, Toyotomo Hideyoshi. At one stage of the seige a small force of ninja involtraited the castle, so demoralizing the Toyotomo, that one general took his own life. The seige came to an end with a long pitch battle to the south of the castle, in which ninja on both sides fought alongside regular troops. In the end Toyotomo was defeated and took his own life.

The Shimabara Rebellion:

In the year 1637, Christians living in the region of Shimabara in the very south of Japan rebelled against religious and social repression. They successfully sack and burned Amakusa Castle and took refuge of the old Hara Castle and successfully defeated any force sent to defeat them. A unit of ninja disguised as peasents involtraited the castle successfully burning food supplies. When discovered the ninja made a dramatic escape jumping off the top of the caslte walls amid a hail of arrows and gunfire. Dispite this however the Japanese authorities still had to ask a Dutch ship to bomb the castle, to hurry defeat. Tnis was the last offical ninja mission.

The End of the Ninja:

In the late 1500s as the great warlord Oba Nobunaga plans to unite Japan became more a reality and his territory increased, he invaded the province of Ise , which neighboured Iga. The invasion was a success and the rulers of Ise became nothing more than puppets. With the violent death of their overlord many Ise samurai revolted and when defeated fled to the mountains of Iga, where they were well received and looked after.

Apon hearing of this Nobunaga ordered an invasion of Iga at once. The first invasion in 1579 was a total failure. The Iga men simply applied their confusion tactics to the invading army. Even when attempted to set up an invasion point at Moroyama tNobunaga's men were harrased. The record says all. "The enemy army collapsed. Some killed eachother by mistake, others committed suicide....Many thousands died. "

The second invasion in 1581 with the help of renagade ninja was victorious. Many Iga men releasing defeat was looming put their families to death rather than let them be killed by Nobunaga's forces. However even this was not an easy victory. As the Iga fought hard. One man from the province of Koga on the side of the Iga ninja "furiously mowed down opponents".

Eventually the ninja made their last stand at a temple in the hills dedicated ironically to Kwannon, the goddess of mercy, at a place called Hijiyama, coming out only to employ their fearfull rappa tactic. "They ( the invading forces ) could not distinguish between friend as foe...so the 'samurai' of the province ( The Iga men, remember that ninja very rearly wore if ever wore distingtive clothes, and would have worn samurai armour and weapons ). made their way by using passwords, while the enemy killed each other by mistake". (The wording in brackets are mine and not in the quotation.).

Eventually it was over. Aided by dry weather the invading army set fire to the beseiged temple. The invasion of Iga was over.

Although this was a great blow to the ninja, they recovered and continued to operate under various Shogun, their last mission being in Shimabarra in 1638. Although folklore claims that various ninja societies still continued into the 19th or 20th centuries, this is highly unlikely.

One story is told of when the American naval ships of Commodore Perry arrived in the 19th century that a ninja agent of the Shogun sneaked onboard and stole certain documents. These documents, (some of which turned out to be nothing more than pornographic poetry of a drunken Dutch sailor) are in Iga Ueno The modern day centre of Iga and Koga, where a ninja museum exsists today. Was it a real ninja who broke onboard the American ships of Perry? In reality maybe not since by 1603 Japan had come under one Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and country became a much more peaceful place. With no more wars there was no more real need for ninja.
Today the ninja tradition lives on in popular modern culture in the west and in Japan . Modern interpters of the old secret martial arts of the ninja led by Hatsumi Masaaki, who is renowned with great respect in martial art circles world wide.

If there are any successors to the ninja it is perhaps the modern day intelligence services and elite forces and swat teams.

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