Vipin Shankar Yang Xiaojing Zhang Beibei

Ninja and the Ninjutsu

The art of stealth, the way of invisibility, and its practitioners the legendary spies and commandos of Feudal Japan. Flourished amid the civil turmoil of the 14th through the 17th centauries.

Ninja and the Ninjutsu

The art was refined through centuries into a deadly science incorporating
Sophisticated techniques for warfare Intelligence gathering & Spiritual development

Ninja and the Ninjutsu

The guiding philosophy was to choose the dark, quiet and subtle method over the bold, active and forceful. Its practitioners considered Ninjutsu to be a comprehensive art for the attainment of goals, the art of winning .

As we proceed
The Origin The Golden Days The Decline An After Thought!

Who are the Ninja?

Their goals: Do anything in order to win Their ways:Espionage, Sabotage, Infiltration, and Assassination, as well as Open Combat in certain situations. Their gender: Both males & females (kunoichi) Their composition: largely farmers and jobless people and other social outsiders.

Ninja: The Origin

No documented evidence to support any one theory of the birth of ninja Legends talk of the ninja s descent from the tengu; terrifying long-nosed demons said to be half man and half crow.

Ninja: The Origin

The First Ninja: The Japanese legend of Prince Yamato is often considered the first ninja story. Yamato did not adopt the black costume or stealthy tactics so often associated with ninja. Instead, he used deception, dressing as a woman to attract two barbarian chieftains. When the chieftains had been lulled into a false sense of security, Yamato drew a hidden sword and killed them both. His use of a disguise is a hallmark of ninja tactics, so Yamato is sometimes called "The First Ninja."

Ninja: The Origin

The impact from China: From Chinese monks of Tang Dynasty, who brought the Chinese military philosophy to Japan Ideas from two military strategy text books
The Art of War (Sun Tsu) Arthashastra (Chanakya) Formed the idea behind the evolution of the Ninja

Ninja: The Origin

The need of samurai warrior class: The samurai had to balance the dual considerations of achieving his goal and maintaining the honor and prestige of the family name. But the ninja just needed money. For money or for living, they did anything.

Ninja: The Origin

The need of wars: There were lots of wars between the 14th century and 18th century. In order to win these wars at the least cost, ninja became the right people for the job.

Ninja: The Origin

Formal ninja schools (ninja ryu) was first developed by Daisuke Togakure. Daisuke, a Samurai, who lost his position in war, escaped to the mountains, south east of Kyoto. Met Kain Doshi (1162), a Chinese monk. Daisuke s descendants developed and refined Ninjutsu.

Ninja: The Origin

Most of the ryu were established in the mountains of south central Honshu. 2 important schools
Iga ryu
Momochi, Hattori, Fujibayasshi

Koga ryu
53 families Mochizuki, Ukai, Nakai

The Golden Days

The Ninja Training The ninja at its peak of power The wars that featured the Ninja impact

The Ninja Training

Ninjutsu was a profession inherited at birth. Infancy: Conditioned to be constantly aware of the things around them; gradually educated in the secrets and traditions of the ryu. 5-6 years old: Play activities began to take the form of training exercises. 9 years old: Body conditioning for musclelimberness and joint flexibility was stressed; Young ninja matured: Striking and kicking techniques were practiced against targets of bundled straw.

The Ninja Training

Early teen years: Learned to use the special weapons of their ryu. Late teen years: Learned to be actors and practical psychologists; The young ninja also learned how to prepare medicines and drugs

The Mommochi Decree

The art of the ninja is not to be employed for personal gain. The art of the ninja is to be employed, with a deep understanding of the essence of Gyokko, for country, for lord, or in times of inescapable personal danger. If the art of the ninja is wilfully employed for personal gain, the art of our forefathers will certainly be defeated.

Ninja at its peak of power

The Ninja Ranks
Jonin (high man) Chunin (middle men) Genin Genin Genin Genin Genin Genin Chunin (middle men) Genin Genin Genin Genin Genin Genin

Ninja at its peak of power

The ninja came into their own during the tumultuous era between 1336 and 1600. In an atmosphere of constant wars, ninja skills were essential for all sides.

The Nanbukucho Wars (1336-1392)

For more than 50 years in the 14th century, Japan had two separate imperial courts, which fought for control of the country. The Northern Court was controlled by the shoguns. The Southern Court belonged to Emperor Go-Daigo, who wanted to rule in his own right.

The Nanbukucho Wars (1336-1392)

Ninja played an important role on both sides in this struggle, infiltrating castles as spies, and even burning down the South's Hachiman-yama Fortress. The Northern Court eventually won, and the puppet-Emperor system was retained.

The Onin War (1467-1477)

About 70 years later, the Onin War broke out. Ninja featured heavily in this conflict, as well. The war began as a succession fight within the ruling Ashikaga clan, but soon devolved into a nation-wide civil war. Although the Onin War ended after 10 years, it ushered in a century of turmoil called the Sengoku Jidai, or "Warring States Period" (though it was actually samurai clans fighting, rather than states).

The Onin War (1467-1477)

Ninja served a number of purposes during the Sengoku Period (1467-1568). They acted as kancho (spies), koran (agitators), teisatsu (scouts), and kisho (surprise attackers). They were most effective in castle sieges, infiltrating and distracting the defenders inside while the main besieging army attacked from outside.

The decline
Beginning of the end. Rally to rejuvenate. The final demise.

Beginning of the end

General Nobunaga Oda forceful and usually violent actions to attain his goals. Detested the mysterious and occult teachings of the ninja. Encouraged spread of Christianity.

Beginning of the end

Ordered his son, Katsuyori to attack the ninja stronghold. Battle of Tensho Iga no Ran (1579):
Katsuyori s troops defeated by the ninja led by Sandayu Momochi

Nobunaga led a second massive invasion (1581)

The ninja were out numbered 10 to 1 Men, women and children of Iga were slaughtered

Rally to rejuvenate
The few surviving ninja went into deeper hiding than before. Families Tarao, Hattori Togakure and Momochi started re-grouping in new mountain retreats.

Rally to rejuvenate
Nobunaga murdered (1582) in Honniji. His ally Ieyasu Tokugawa had to move safely from Sakai (Osaka) to Okazaki Castle (Nagoya) Had to evade the Honniji territory The only route : through the forests of Iga.

Rally to rejuvenate
Hanzo Hattori organized ninjas from Iga and Koga ryu and arranged safe passage . Ieyasu later became the shogun in 1603

The final demise

Peace; not battle, gave the final blow. The Tokugawa shoguns brought peace and civil order. Ninja had less opportunity for work. Many struck out on their own, with no effect. Some used their unique talents in police work and some in the military.

The final demise

Many turned to crime. Sasuke Sarutobi, Kirigakure and Goemon Ishikawa: Robin Hood and Zorro of Japan.

The final demise

Shogun Ieyasu hired many ninja. Hattori family secret police formed. Security and comfort brought downfall of the original ninja. Glorified security guards.

The final demise

The few ninja families that remained in the mountains shrouded themselves in complete secrecy.

The last nail

The Shimabara rebellion (1637-38)
Christian peasants revolted near Nagasaki. Shoguns back into action. A group of 10 former Iga Ninja (the oldest was 63), sent to gather intelligence. All they could do was steal food supplies for the government troops.

The last nail

Commodore Perry s Black ships (1853) Ninja Yasusuke Sawamura sent to board the ship secretly to collect information.

The last nail

2 documents; a letter and a Dutch sailor song; procured.

An After thought!

Ministry of State Security of The People's Republic of China

References
Stephen K Hayes; The Ninja and their secret fighting art; Charles E Tuttle Co; First Edition Chris Spackman; An encyclopedia of Japanese History; www.openhistory.org/jhdp/encyclopedia

http://www.illuminatedlantern.com/cinema/archives/ninja.php http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninjutsu http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninja http://japanesemadeeasy2.webs.com/historyoftheninja.htm http://www.realninjabook.com/tag/japan-warlords/