Concept in Definition ABC

During the Middle Ages in Japan the feudal lords or daimyos competed among themselves for territory. Back then it was important that some warriors had a training specific to overcome situations of great difficulty. It is in this context when shinobi, better known as ninjas in the West, emerge.

The best fighters of medieval Japan

Today we know ninjas from action movies, comics, video games or theme parks. In all of them they appear as ruthless warriors, hired assassins and thieves. However, this image does not correspond to the truth of the historical facts. Actually the ninjas were like the members of the services of intelligence currently. They worked as mercenaries for some feudal lord and had to fulfill special missions, for which they were physically and mentally trained.

When carrying out espionage tasks, they could not wear clothing that could identify them, since their mission was to go completely unnoticed. However, for night missions they wore dark blue clothes that did not reflect light in the dark.

His skills include camouflage techniques, velocity of movements, the mastery of a art martial (ninjutsu) and the use of deadly weapons. One of their skills was the handling of a black powder that they used to impede the vision of their pursuers.

We know these figures through Japanese literature

Like the gladiators of ancient Rome, the warriors of Sparta or the medieval European knights, ninjas are known through literary accounts. Oral narratives about ninjas became very popular in the 18th century, and at the beginning of the 20th century a new character named Sarotubi Sasuke appeared. In a few years the adventures of Sarotubi Sasuke led to movie theater Japanese and post-manga comics.

Comparison with samurai

They are both Japanese warriors and are known through the literature and the cinema. However, the samurai is not a mercenary in the service of a feudal lord but acts according to a code of very strict honor, the bushido. For a samurai his honor is something sacred. He is someone who cannot lie and who must be totally fair to others. The samurai were not just brave warriors, as they were refined people who performed the tea ceremony and practiced the art of calligraphy.

Photos: Fotolia - Bakai / rattakette