Ninja

Ninja were covert agents or mercenaries in Feudal Japan who specialized in unorthodox warfare such as espionage, sabotage, guerrilla warfare, and assassinations during the age of the samurai.

History

The origin of the ninja dates back to the Heian period (794 to 1185), a time when warriors were used by the Japanese nobility for espionage and reconnaissance. However, the ninja as we know them today did not truly emerge until the Sengoku period (1467 to 1603), a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and near-constant military conflict.

Training

Ninja were trained from childhood, where they were taught the arts of stealth, disguise, escape, and concealment, as well as guerrilla warfare and martial arts. This training was known as Ninjutsu, the strategy and tactics of unconventional warfare, guerrilla warfare and espionage purportedly practiced by the ninja.

Tools and Weapons

Ninja used a variety of tools and weapons, the most famous of which is the Shuriken, a throwing star. Other tools include the Kunai, a type of dagger, and the Ninjato, a short sword. They also used tools for climbing, lock picking, and arson.

In Popular Culture

Ninja have been featured in many forms of media, including movies, television shows, video games, and comic books. They are often portrayed as wearing all-black clothing and possessing superhuman abilities, although this is a departure from historical fact.

See Also

• Samurai
• Bushido
• Feudal Japan
• Ninjutsu