The History of the Ninja or Shinobi
The ninja warriors that we see in the movies and in comics, assassins of the shadows, dressed entirely in black, with almost magical techniques that allow them to hide and carry out missions unnoticed, can be very attractive to the general imagination. But the historical reality of the ninja was different. During Japan’s feudal era, they were “lower class” warriors, recruited by great feudal lords and rulers to perform espionage missions.
The origin of the ninja
It is almost impossible to say exactly when the first ninja, or more correctly “shinobi”, arose, since the functions of spies and assassins are frequent throughout history and in all cultures of the world. Japanese legends say that shinobi are descendants of a demon that was part human and part raven. However, his origin is most likely less mythological, forging his presence as a counterpart to the ruling classes of his day, the samurai.
Most studies suggest that ninjutsu techniques, techniques developed and used by the shinobi, began to take shape between the years 600 and 900. It is believed that Prince Shotoku, who lived from 574 to 622, had his service to Otomono Sahito, a shinobi spy.
By 907, the Tang dynasty in China had fallen, leading the country into some 50 years of uncertainty and change, forcing many generals and rulers of the Tang dynasty to flee to Japan, bringing with them new fighting techniques and war philosophies.
The monks from China also arrived in Japan around the year 1020, introducing new medicines and fighting techniques of their own, with many of their ideas of Hindu origin, passing through Tibet and China, until reaching Japan. These in turn taught the Japanese warrior monks, yamabushi, and other early members of future ninja clans.
The First Known Shinobi School
For more than a century, the encounter between local tactics and those brought from China cemented the teachings of ninjutsu, developing as a counter culture, without formal rules. It was not until the 12th century, when Daisuke Togakure and Kain Doshi formalized the shinobi school.
