It corresponds to the establishment of the Tokugawa government. Well, weve got the truth for you! They absolutely existed, and were indeed tasked with tasks such as spying, assassination, and psychological warfare. Did ninjas ever exist? This has to do with the romanticised misunderstanding over what honour means to the samurai. But women ninjas still exist By definition, if you can see a ninja, then it's not a ninja. Yet again, political instability broke out after Toyotomis death. Female ninja, or kunoichi, infiltrated enemy castles in the guise of dancers, concubines, or servants who were highly successful spies and sometimes even acted as assassins as well. A sharper-than-razors blade hidden in the folds of a dainty laquered fan, on the other hand, is probably as subtle as one can get unless one considers that the needles holding up a kunoichis silky hair are usually sharpened and coated with neurotoxians. 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Although, its probably fair to say that considering the actual role of the ninja, close combat could definitely be a hazard of the job so its probably fair to say that the average ninja certainly would have to be reasonably tough, and well-trained in martial arts. Considering the ubiquity of the ninja in twenty-first century popular culture, it is remarkable how fast they appear to have sprung out of nowhere in the 1950s and 1960s. Some consider it to be 1573, 1600, 1603 and 1615. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. Masters of the dark arts of combat, indomitable yet silent warriors. The conflicting reports might make you start to wonder if ninjas were real. Shortly after, the Shogunate the feudal Japanese military government fell, leaving the Imperial court to take over leadership, marking an end of an era for the samurai. If you loosened the definition to include modern operatives, pre-modern Chinese spies wouldqualify. After all, anyone, from any time period, can write a book and claim themselves to be descendants of the ninja. The descendants of the samurai families also exist today. This allowed the female ninjas to infiltrate different locations without coming under suspicion. This is a topic that is covered here. So the next time you catch a whiff of perfume on the night breeze or see the edge of a dress fading into the shadows, feel safe knowing that a kunoichi is near-by. Ninja were mercenaries who specialized in covert warfare, and were available for hire by anyone who had the means to pay for their services. The regions surrounding these two villages were ruled by samurai. Shingen approached Chiyome and gave her a mission to recruit women and train them as an underground network of female espionage operatives. The first ones a popular obstacle course competition. And finally, do ninjas still exist today? They were covert agents in feudal Japan who were paid to perform a broad range of clandestine military services. Surely the special forces and modern spies qualify as ninjas, do they? Before his shoulder injury, he was actively involved in street callisthenics, Aikido and obstacle course racing. Experts in. In the 14th century The Tale of Heike, Gozen was described as: a remarkably strong archer, and as a swords-woman she was a warrior worth a thousand, ready to confront a demon or a god, mounted or on foot. However, they didnt have magical powers, and were just as human as any of us, with the same needs and weaknesses. Despite Japan being a highly patriarchal society, there were female ninjas (commonly known as kunoichi). You might want to look into History Channel's (back when they did history) "Unsolved History" special on Ninjas. . During the feudal period of Japan, ninjas were used as killers, spies and messengers. That said, ninja did really exist, and they played key roles in some of the most important events in Japanese history. Or, at least there was no mention of the term ninja or any of the equivalent terms before that period. Although there were many different clans spread throughout Japan, all of them included samurai warriors and all were open to the onna-bugeisha. They did not fight against each other. However, it isnt clear if the term ninja (or any equivalent terms) were used. The Two Most Important Ninja Clans. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Takeko suffered a bullet to her chest, and with her last breath the 21-year-old requested her sister cut off her head so that her body would not be taken as an enemy trophy. One of the smoothest operators to have existed in history is the kunoichi, or female ninja. Theyre also shown to be honorable above reproach, eschewing a normal life entirely in exchange for one spent entirely in service to their leader. According to the historical records, Kunoichis rarely participated in fights and they were mostly conducting surveillance or quiet assassinations. Female Ninja Existed Iga and Koga Ninja History: When and where did the ninja originate? Posion, blinding powders and knives were easily hidden in the folds of a kimono (or, for us modern girls, underneath the skirt of a poofy pink prom dress) as well as in musical instruments and sex toys. History Hit brings you the stories that shaped the world through our award winning podcast network and an online history channel. Note: To the best of my ability and time constraints, I have cross-referenced research from various experts to piece together a fairly accurate history of the ninja. Later, in the 1020s, Chinese monks followed, carrying their own new ideas along with them. Also, the practice of ninjutsu as a distinct ryuha has not been proven to survive to this day. Their masters used the nearby mountains and forests to . News | Fortunately there are ninja schools you can attend to develop your skills in martial arts and weapons to become a full fledged ninja. 14th-century war chronicle with references to the ninja, widely accepted as mostly accurate. This suggests that the yamabushi had some influence on the birth of ninja. Privacy Policy. 33 37. Ninjas were used as killers, spies and messengers and were trained in martial arts such as taijutsu, kenjutsu, and ninjutsu. To find a ninja, you need to know what is a ninja. No, ninjas as they are commonly depicted today do not exist. A creatively inclusive haven, literary community and liminal space since 2005. These sources of knowledge in military strategy (mainly espionage), medicinal knowledge and temperament of the people who absorbed them would play a part in forming Ninjutsu during the Sengoku period. The dispute here arises due to a longstanding opinion that unconventional warfare was incompatible with the samurais Bushido code, which prizes honour. A kunoichi (Japanese: ) is a female ninja or practitioner of ninjutsu (ninpo). It is also worth noting that there is a degree of historical dispute regarding Mochizuki Chiyome. An evolution of ninja and other pre-modern spies? Over time, her underground network of kunoichi learned to disguise themselves as Shinto shrine maidens, priestesses or geisha, which allowed them to move freely and gain access to targets. Kunoichi training tended to prioritize traditional female skills. Legend goes that she led the successful expedition without shedding a drop of blood, and continued to rule over Japan for the next 70 years until the age of 100. After all, the techniques and tactics they use are similar to ninjutsu. Moreover, did they even exist? Note: Koryu martial arts areJapaneseclassical martial arts with a lineage that can be traced before the Meiji period. Natori, Masazumi. Therefore, records of them would have been well-guarded or destroyed. The idea of espionage first appeared within Sun Tzus Art Of War(Chinese military treatise dating back to 5th century BC) and was importantto military victory. Just because a martial art cannot be proven to have historical links beyond the Meiji era, does not make what you are doing any less effective, legitimate or impressive. Exploring 5 Ninja Weapons: Fact or Fiction? Did female samurai exist? Kunoichi also usedvials of poison on a targets alcohol, which would result in quick consumption and potency. Ninja are, in fact, their own ethnicity. However, its has been decided that no one gives a flying rats ass, as Pirates PWN ninjas. For this article, I adopted 1603 as the end. Head down, Read More Ninja Exhibition backed by University Research and Science TokyoContinue. They trained to utilize disguises such as miko (Shinto shrine priestess), prostitutes, or geisha for purposes of espionage or assassination, Chiyomes kunoichi network served Shingen for years until his mysterious death in 1573. Were there any female ninjas? In fact, the women practitioners of Bujinkan, a martial arts system containing nine schools which includes ninjustu, are holding the first-ever global kunoichi conference. The Ninpiden was a secret manual passed down in the Hattori clan. The two most famous were Iga and Koga. In reality, ninjas were covert agents who specialized in espionage, unconventional methods of warfare, and deceptive actions. After all, its simply unrealistic to think that a ninja would hide in a shadow in a dark room for days on end like in a film! When people talk about ninjas, they often conjure images of a strong man in a black outfit attacking his enemies with a sword. Useful stilettos!). Though shinobi proper, as specially trained spies and mercenaries, appeared in the 15th century during the Sengoku period, antecedents may have existed as early as the 12th century. The kunoichi, or female ninja, was trained in many of the same arts as their male counterpartsand then more. Japan's ninjas heading for extinction - BBC News Tools of a dying art Japan's era of shoguns and samurai is long over, but the country does have one, or maybe two, surviving ninjas. Ninja Turtles? : True Tales of Assassins, Samurai, and Outlaws. It literally translates as the one who endures, a rather appropriate appellation for someone trained in this particular fighting style. One might consider the possibility that Mochizuki Chiyome a was a powerful influence and proof that women could be utilized just as effectively as men, if not more so, in the arts of espionage and assassination. In reality, they were everyday people who were often harassed by the ruling class in Japan over 400 years ago. How much of this is actually true, however? Should the information not be forthcoming, they take what might be considered a more elegant form of forcing the info out than their male counterparts: while men are trained in the manipulation of katanas and nunchucks, women are trained to manipulate their bodies and their victims emotions. However, ninjas essentially dont exist in their historical form today the world has changed, and much of what they practiced and did simply doesnt have much use in todays world, as too much has changed. Note: The year when the Warring States period ends has been debated by scholars. CNN has exclusively obtained the audio recording of the 2021 meeting in Bedminster, New Jersey, where President Donald Trump discusses holding secret documents he did not declassify. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles may have originated in the underground netherworld of New York City, but real ninjas actually have their origin in imperial China, with fighting practices having been imported from places like Tibet and India. They do not carry obvious weapons, they did not brazenly attack their enemies, and often operated with a high degree of intellect. Centuries ago, when the way of the kunoichi was being pioneered, that was even more true. We go over the origins of ninjas in Japan's Sengoku Period. The short answer is yes, and they still exist today, but their origins might It has been verified, registered and recognised by two reputable Koryu organisations that rigorously examine scrolls for unbroken historical lineage. They used disguises (situation appropriate) to infiltrate, kill, and set fires. If you are training in a modern Ninjutsu school, please continue doing so. If ninja really did ever exist like they do in the movies, and if they still existed today, theyd likely be pretty good at keeping it a secret. So whats the deal with Kunoichi? Unlike thenusubito (thieves), they aligned themselves with a political cause and warfare (i.e. During feudal Japan, the "shinobi" or "ninja" were highly-skilled warriors who worked as spies and mercenaries, using specialized arts such as ninjutsu and taijutsu for espionage and assassination. Nothing stirs the imagination quite like ninjas. Cummins, Antony. However, it did end up happening Every Hokage has been, in some way, connected. Many people like to think of female ninjas, or kunoichi as a myth, but they were very much real. Potboiler novels, comics and TV shows began to speak of a heretofore unmentioned underclass of assassins, the ninja. Yes, shuriken (throwing stars) existed, but Alt says it's still unclear how they were used: Were they used to slash? Exploring 5 Ninja Weapons: Fact or Fiction? How Common Were Female Ninjas? When asked about his company, he proudly states: We do one thing and one thing only at Kagewe make kick-ass Ninja Uniforms!, Kage Ninja Gear 10291 1300 E #166 Sandy, UT 84094, Phone: 1 (385) 240-5243 Email: kageninjagear@gmail.com.