While there is an international martial arts organization representing several modern styles of ninjutsu, the historical lineage of these styles is disputed. Some schools claim to be the only legitimate heir of the art, but ninjutsu is not centralized like modernized martial arts such as judo or karate. Togakure-ryū claims to be the oldest recorded form of ninjutsu, and claims to have survived past the 16th century.
Spying in Japan dates as far back as Prince Shōtoku (572–622). According to Shōninki, the first open usage of ninjutsu during a military campaign was in the Genpei War, when Minamoto no Kuro Yoshitsune chose warriors to serve as shinobi(ninja) during a battle. This manuscript goes on to say that during the Kenmu era, Kusunoki Masashige frequently used ninjutsu. According to footnotes in this manuscript, the Genpei War lasted from 1180 to 1185, and the Kenmu Restoration occurred between 1333 and 1336.[3][page needed]Ninjutsu was developed by the samurai of the Nanboku-cho period, and further refined by groups of jizamurai mainly from Kōka and the Iga Province of Japan in later periods. From circa 1460 to 1574 and 1581, respectively, these jizamurai led Kōka and Iga as de facto independent confederacies – the Kōka and Iga ikki – and formed an alliance together which persisted until the conquest of Kōka by Oda Nobunaga in 1574.
Throughout history, the shinobi were assassins, scouts, and spies who were hired mostly by territorial lords known as daimyō. Despite being able to assassinate in stealth, the primary role was as spies and scouts. Shinobi are mainly noted for their use of stealth and deception. They would use this to avoid direct confrontation if possible, which enabled them to escape large groups of opposition.
Many different schools (ryū) have taught their unique versions of ninjutsu. An example of this is the Togakure-ryū, which claims to have been developed after a defeated samurai warrior called Daisuke Togakure escaped to the region of Iga. He later came in contact with the warrior-monk Kain Doshi, who taught him a new way of viewing life and the means of survival (ninjutsu).[2]: 18–21
Ninjutsu was developed as a collection of fundamental survivalist techniques in the warring state of feudal Japan. The ninja used their art to ensure their survival in a time of violent political turmoil. Ninjutsu included methods of gathering information and techniques of non-detection, avoidance, and misdirection. Ninjutsu involved training in disguise, escape, concealment, archery, and medicine. Skills relating to espionage and assassination were highly useful to warring factions in feudal Japan. At some point, the skills of espionage became known collectively as ninjutsu, and the people who specialized in these tasks were called shinobi no mono.
Today, the last authentic heir of ninjutsu is Jinichi Kawakami, the 21st head of the Koga Ban family, honorary director of the Ninja Museum of Igaryu, and professor at Mie University, specializing in the research of ninjutsu.[4][5] In 2012, Kawakami chose to be the end of his line of ninjutsu, stating that the art has no practical place in the modern age.[6]
^Green, Thomas A.; Svinth, Joseph R. (2011). Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. p. 163. ISBN9781598842449. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
^ abHayes, Stephen K. (1990). The Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art (17th ed.). Rutland, Vermont: Tuttle. ISBN0804816565.
^Masazumi, Natori; Mazuer, Axel; Graham, Jon E. (2010). Shoninki: The Secret Teachings of the Ninja: The 17th-Century Manual on the Art of Concealment (1st ed.). Rochester, Vernmont: Destiny Books. ISBN9781594776670.
Bertrand, John (2006). "Techniques that made ninjas feared in 15th-century Japan still set the standard for covert ops". Military History. 23 (1): 12–19.
Borda, Remigiusz. The Illustrated Ninja Handbook: Hidden Techniques of Ninjutsu. Tokyo–Rutland, Vt.–Singapore: Tuttle, 2014.
Callos, Tom. "Notable American Martial Artists", Black Belt Magazine, May 2007, pp. 72–73.
DiMarzio, Daniel. A Story of Life, Fate, and Finding the Lost Art of Koka Ninjutsu in Japan, 2008. ISBN978-1-4357-1208-9
Green, T. A. and J. R. Svinth. Martial Arts of the World: An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO, 2010.
Hatsumi, Masaaki. Ninjutsu: History and Tradition, 1981. ISBN0-86568-027-2
Mol, Serge (2008). Invisible Armor: An Introduction to the Esoteric Dimension of Japan's Classical Warrior Arts. Belgium: Eibusha. ISBN978-90-8133610-9.
Toshitora, Yamashiro. Secret Guide to Making Ninja Weapons, Butokukai Press, 1986. ISBN978-99942-913-1-1
Zoughari, Kacem. The Ninja: Ancient Shadow Warriors of Japan, Tuttle Publishing, 2010. ISBN0-8048-3927-1
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ninjutsu.
Ninjutsu techniques – ninjutsu kata and techniques in the AKBAN wiki
Ninjutsu history – history of Ninjutsu and its evolution
November 26, 2023
ninjutsu, this, article, possibly, contains, original, research, please, improve, verifying, claims, made, adding, inline, citations, statements, consisting, only, original, research, should, removed, february, 2023, learn, when, remove, this, template, messag. This article possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed February 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message Ninjutsu 忍術 sometimes used interchangeably with the modern term ninpō 忍法 1 is the martial art strategy and tactics of unconventional warfare guerrilla warfare insurgency tactics and espionage purportedly practised by the ninja 2 page needed Ninjutsu was a separate discipline in some traditional Japanese schools which integrated study of more conventional martial arts taijutsu along with shurikenjutsu kenjutsu sōjutsu bōjutsu and others Ninjutsu 忍術 The kanji for ninja Also known asNinpō Shinobi jutsuCountry of originJapanParenthoodMilitary tacticsWhile there is an international martial arts organization representing several modern styles of ninjutsu the historical lineage of these styles is disputed Some schools claim to be the only legitimate heir of the art but ninjutsu is not centralized like modernized martial arts such as judo or karate Togakure ryu claims to be the oldest recorded form of ninjutsu and claims to have survived past the 16th century Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory editMain article Ninja Spying in Japan dates as far back as Prince Shōtoku 572 622 According to Shōninki the first open usage of ninjutsu during a military campaign was in the Genpei War when Minamoto no Kuro Yoshitsune chose warriors to serve as shinobi ninja during a battle This manuscript goes on to say that during the Kenmu era Kusunoki Masashige frequently used ninjutsu According to footnotes in this manuscript the Genpei War lasted from 1180 to 1185 and the Kenmu Restoration occurred between 1333 and 1336 3 page needed Ninjutsu was developed by the samurai of the Nanboku cho period and further refined by groups of jizamurai mainly from Kōka and the Iga Province of Japan in later periods From circa 1460 to 1574 and 1581 respectively these jizamurai led Kōka and Iga as de facto independent confederacies the Kōka and Iga ikki and formed an alliance together which persisted until the conquest of Kōka by Oda Nobunaga in 1574 Throughout history the shinobi were assassins scouts and spies who were hired mostly by territorial lords known as daimyō Despite being able to assassinate in stealth the primary role was as spies and scouts Shinobi are mainly noted for their use of stealth and deception They would use this to avoid direct confrontation if possible which enabled them to escape large groups of opposition Many different schools ryu have taught their unique versions of ninjutsu An example of this is the Togakure ryu which claims to have been developed after a defeated samurai warrior called Daisuke Togakure escaped to the region of Iga He later came in contact with the warrior monk Kain Doshi who taught him a new way of viewing life and the means of survival ninjutsu 2 18 21 Ninjutsu was developed as a collection of fundamental survivalist techniques in the warring state of feudal Japan The ninja used their art to ensure their survival in a time of violent political turmoil Ninjutsu included methods of gathering information and techniques of non detection avoidance and misdirection Ninjutsu involved training in disguise escape concealment archery and medicine Skills relating to espionage and assassination were highly useful to warring factions in feudal Japan At some point the skills of espionage became known collectively as ninjutsu and the people who specialized in these tasks were called shinobi no mono Today the last authentic heir of ninjutsu is Jinichi Kawakami the 21st head of the Koga Ban family honorary director of the Ninja Museum of Igaryu and professor at Mie University specializing in the research of ninjutsu 4 5 In 2012 Kawakami chose to be the end of his line of ninjutsu stating that the art has no practical place in the modern age 6 See also editKunoichi Ninjas in popular cultureReferences edit Green Thomas A Svinth Joseph R 2011 Martial Arts of the World An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation Santa Barbara California ABC CLIO p 163 ISBN 9781598842449 Retrieved 5 January 2016 a b Hayes Stephen K 1990 The Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art 17th ed Rutland Vermont Tuttle ISBN 0804816565 Masazumi Natori Mazuer Axel Graham Jon E 2010 Shoninki The Secret Teachings of the Ninja The 17th Century Manual on the Art of Concealment 1st ed Rochester Vernmont Destiny Books ISBN 9781594776670 Study Circles Ninja Iga ryu Iga ryu Ninja Museum Iganinja jp Retrieved 2013 10 30 Last Ninja Becomes University Ninjutsu Professor Crunchyroll 2012 01 31 Retrieved 2013 10 30 Oi Mariko 2012 11 23 BBC News Japan s ninjas heading for extinction Bbc co uk Retrieved 2013 10 30 Further reading editThis further reading section may need cleanup Please read the editing guide and help improve the section September 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message Bertrand John 2006 Techniques that made ninjas feared in 15th century Japan still set the standard for covert ops Military History 23 1 12 19 Borda Remigiusz The Illustrated Ninja Handbook Hidden Techniques of Ninjutsu Tokyo Rutland Vt Singapore Tuttle 2014 Callos Tom Notable American Martial Artists Black Belt Magazine May 2007 pp 72 73 DiMarzio Daniel A Story of Life Fate and Finding the Lost Art of Koka Ninjutsu in Japan 2008 ISBN 978 1 4357 1208 9 Green T A and J R Svinth Martial Arts of the World An Encyclopedia of History and Innovation Santa Barbara Calif ABC CLIO 2010 Hatsumi Masaaki Ninjutsu History and Tradition 1981 ISBN 0 86568 027 2 Hatsumi Masaaki Ninpo Wisdom for Life 1998 ISBN 1 58776 206 4 ISBN 0 9727738 0 0 Hayes Stephen K and Masaaki Hatsumi Secrets from the Ninja Grandmaster rev ed Boulder Colo Paladin Press 2003 Hatsumi Masaaki Essence of Ninjutsu 1988 ISBN 0 8092 4724 0 Mol Serge 2008 Invisible Armor An Introduction to the Esoteric Dimension of Japan s Classical Warrior Arts Belgium Eibusha ISBN 978 90 8133610 9 Mol Serge 2016 Takeda Shinobi Hiden Unveiling Takeda Shingen s Secret Ninja Legacy Eibusha pp 1 192 ISBN 978 90 813361 3 0 Toshitora Yamashiro Secret Guide to Making Ninja Weapons Butokukai Press 1986 ISBN 978 99942 913 1 1 Zoughari Kacem The Ninja Ancient Shadow Warriors of Japan Tuttle Publishing 2010 ISBN 0 8048 3927 1External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ninjutsu Ninjutsu techniques ninjutsu kata and techniques in the AKBAN wiki Ninjutsu history history of Ninjutsu and its evolution Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ninjutsu amp oldid 1186593221, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
