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The Art of Ninjutsu »

It’s important to answer the literal question first: in a fight, of course, ninja would win. No matter how skilled a swordsman, your samurai can’t be awake every moment of the day, and no ninja worth his (or her) salt will be dumb enough to charge their foe head-on in broad daylight. But since these two warrior archetypes are so often juxtaposed, it seems worthwhile to ask: how are they related, and what do they represent? Sure, ninja, unlike samurai, “have no honor,” but isn’t the truth (as usual) more complex?

We’ve already explored various theories of the history of the ninja in a great article you all should read, and my personal take is this: the theory that ninja arose from the common people is the most plausible. Probably all the traits we ascribe to ninja (from their methods of attack to their philosophy) arose from different sources, but I suspect that on the whole it was a bottom-up social process.

As one historically accurate film, among others, show us, samurai employed ninja to do their dirty work. Ninja activities violate not so much the samurai code of honor, as the principles of a civil society; but it’s not hard to see how useful ninja would be for an ambitious lord. Samurai have, after all, two faces: the one, honor-bound warriors, courageous to the point of death; the other, corrupt landowners, chained by self-serving traditions. This two-facedness is showcased exceptionally in the Masaki Kobayashi film Harakiri.

On the other hand, it’s highly probable that certain ninjutsu arts were developed by peasantry as a means of resisting the brutal rule of samurai, when they had so few at their disposal. Like many arts once developed by an underclass–most notably karate–it later became symbolic of Japan itself.

The Japanese tradition is full of these tensions between the aristocratic and common: Zen meditation vs. the Zen monk Issa’s obscene poetry, the Lone Wolf vs. Zatoichi; and I posit that “ninja vs. samurai” is another such dichotomy.

In closing, for those ninja enthusiasts (and hence friends of the common people) out there, I did hear rumors in Japan that one of the last receptors of the ancient ninjutsu lineage is still teaching. He lives in Chiba. If you plan to go wait on his doorstep, I suggest you bring a magazine, as there isn’t much else to do in Chiba.


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conkwe - 11/26/09 5:40 pm
ludachris714 - 11/24/09 12:07 am
Hoc - 11/23/09 10:12 pm

hmm, I’m more Ninja then I thought…

I’m thinking to myself, maybe the word Ningin was derived from the word Ninja raspberry

I know ninjin in Japanese means carrots. That’s almost similar, but I doubt that has anything to do with ningin. =)

Oh really!! I didn’t know that…

Yeah, Tecmo create great titles!


Too bad I don’t have a DS. I would try to purchase it. smile


yeyuh Ninja Gaiden (Tecmo)


so much ninja! :D


Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is just awesome! ^_^


why are those ningas every were lol


wow your right i’ve never heard of any of these


how did i know a shuriken would be one it’s just because im so super ninga


wow i thought something nigahita did would have been on here im surprised(sorry if i spelled that wrong)


wow chuck noris really lol


that pic is so cool


i think that i may possibly be a ninga lol


WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ninjas, I know a ninja lol


Happy Thanksgiving everybody! smile
I watched Ninja Assassins today and i thought it was very bloody wink
i am THANKFUL for everything in my life and i should not take anything for granted.


ludachris714 - 11/24/09 12:07 am
Hoc - 11/23/09 10:12 pm

hmm, I’m more Ninja then I thought…

I’m thinking to myself, maybe the word Ningin was derived from the word Ninja raspberry

I know ninjin in Japanese means carrots. That’s almost similar, but I doubt that has anything to do with ningin. =)


I love the first 3 Ninja’s Movie!!! And that ninja parade video had me rolling with laughter~


AlexaNguyen - 11/25/09 9:23 am

Ryu’s still a cool “ninja”..

Surf ninjas? Wth. *shakes head

That was my reaction to Surf Ninjas too…


Ryu’s a ninja? xD


Ryu’s still a cool “ninja”..

Surf ninjas? Wth. *shakes head


Lol, look at Chuck Norris on the cover of “The Octagon”...I haven’t seen it yet.

redmangolover - 11/24/09 7:15 pm

Honorable mention: 3 Ninjas.

Yeah, 3 Ninjas should have made the top 5 retro ninja films smile
3ninjas2-1.jpg


I’m not going to lie, it sounds insane.  But after doing some research, I’ve had it confirmed that it is indeed possible.  And yes, cats are all ninjas.  Have you ever seen Samurai Pizza Cats?  They were originally ninjas.  That has to tell you something.


Cats telling time: What if its noon, but cloudy? Lol that makes no sense at all..
But here’s something more factual. All cats are ninjas! :D


yeah ninja turtles!


^ Ha I totally agree on that!

I can’t wait to slash open my turkey on Thanksgiving. I’ll make sure it disappears into my belly quickly.


Honorable mention: 3 Ninjas.


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