Birth
of the Ninja
The region of Koka (today known as Koga), has been a theater of rebellions
and major combats in the Japanese history since ancient time. Banished from
the center of the political world
had found refuge in this area.
The experience and skills of these warriors, along with the knowledge of
the local people were the basis of the development of the NinJutsu strategies.
The Different Schools
Of NinJutsu
The two regions of Koka and Iga were not the enemies that TV programs and
movies are showing nowadays, on the opposite there were many blood links
between the regions.
Other schools like the Fuma Ryu did not have much power during the time
of the warring states.
With the coming of the Edo period as koka and Iga became very popular for
their NinJutsu styles and therefore immediately recognized, many masters
moved to other regions changing their names.
Many adopted the name of the region itself for their schools.
Koka
and Iga
The two regions had different history as while Koka had more of the Kyoto
influence, Iga had more from Nara.
During the warring states period, many alliances were tied up between the
two regions and we can see this result in one of the most famous secret
manual of NinJutsu, the BanSenShuKai, which was compiled in joint effort
between these two schools.
The script seems to have gotten most of the infiltration and reconnaissance
techniques from Iga and the use of gunpowder, medicines and psychology from
Koka.
Are Ninja Killers?
Ninja could be used for assassinations as well as for infiltration and theft
but the difference between a normal assassin or outlaw is that for the ninja
these were just missions, part of their job.
In the use of this knowledge, the difference between the ‘sword of
justice’ and the ‘sword of evil’ lies in the heart of
the person who is actually using the sword.
In the character ‘nin’ of ninja the sign of ‘blade’
is on the top of the sign of ‘heart.
Ninja’s Organizations
The fact that ninja society was organized in Jonin, Chunin and Genin is
only a lie.
This distinction was not related to any hierarchical structure but given
depending on the skills acquired by the ninja.