By lyuesword | 13 October 2020 | 1 Comments
THE REAL HISTORY OF THE NINJAS
The True History of the Ninjas
Experts have had a bad time when it comes to researching about ninja history.
Ninjas, also known as shinobis, have always found themselves in the middle of a fine line. Films and novels have helped romanticize the figure of Japanese shinobi to the point where it becomes difficult to discern between truth and fantasy. Even making people wonder: were ninjas real?
A problem heightened by the secrecy that is logical in an occupation where deception and betrayal are the order of the day.
Today we set out to expose real facts about the ninjas, separating reality from fiction and casting light on complicated issues.
Let’s get started.
Did Ninjas Really Exist?
Luckily for all those who love medieval Japan, the Ninjas really existed.
Even Oda Nobunaga went out to hunt them down, as their dark activities opposed his goal of achieving unification— we will explore this further below.
There is not as much information about them today as there is about other kinds of Japanese warriors. Of course, that's expected due to the very nature of the ninja's work.
Only once the conflicts and civil wars had subsided and the ninja's profession had become expendable, the outlook changed. Then, some of them decide that it was time for the world to know what they had been doing for a long time in the shadows.
The scrolls were the ideal means to record the wanderings of the ninja clans.
By: Motokoka
What Did Ninjas Do in Feudal Japan?
The real activities of the shinobis have been the subject of speculation. The facts commonly accepted about ninja history can turn a bit blurry. These warriors are often seen as cold-blooded killers; mercenaries who would quietly kill for a handful of coins. But their activities were somewhat more complicated than that.
The ninjas' main task was to gather information. Espionage missions that consisted of following or persuading certain targets in order to get information on a specific subject were what a Shinobi normally did on a daily basis.
Other activities of the ninja, a little riskier, could consist of just the opposite; misinformation, deception, spreading rumors, supplanting identities, inciting revolts in the population.
They acted more like spies than assassins.
That's why when people ask us "were ninjas real?" we usually reply: yes, ninjas were real, but not the way you imagine them.
However, certain missions required more drastic actions, such as kidnapping or eliminating targets.
The Two Most Important Ninja Clans
There were several clans throughout the history of ninjas of ancient Japan. The two most famous were Iga and Koga.
The Iga shinobi clan originated near Mie Prefecture. Shinobis growing up in the clan learned the complex arts of ninjutsu at an early age. Their masters used the nearby mountains and forests to teach them how to take advantage of all kinds of terrain.
At the base of operations of this ninja clan, researchers found a lot of interesting things. Just to mention a few: secret passages, quick escape routes, dark hiding places from which it was possible to observe without being observed, and even false floors that were unlocked with special locks— under which all kinds of weapons could be stored.
The most famous samurai of this clan was Hattori Hanzo.
Of the other clan, Koga, a little less is known. Their base of operations was located in Shiga Prefecture. It is believed that they had dozens of ninja villages there. Today, it is possible to visit some of them and see their gadgets.
By: z tanuki
What Happened to the Ninjas?
As mentioned above, Oda Nobunaga maintained a deadly rivalry with the shinobi clans. So much so that he used every resource at his disposal to hunt them down, destroying these secret organizations.
But that was not the end of the ninja clans.
In the 18th century, Yoshimune Tokugawa hired the surviving ninjas to form the first Japanese secret intelligence service: oniwaban.
The work of its members consisted almost exclusively of collecting information for the daimios and various government agents. They were often hired as bodyguards disguised as gardeners.
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