Japanese+Ninjas

media type="custom" key="675941"[[image:ninja_picture.jpg width="293" height="203" align="left" caption="Two ninjas praticing their skills."]] __**J****apanese Ninjas**__
Created by Toni D. Ninjas are highly trained Japanese warriors. They are trained in the art of ninjutsu and have been used for sabotage, assassination, scouting, and espionage. They use methods of stealth and secrecy to do their job. Ninjas were commonly hired by
 * shoguns** and daimyos to do their dirty work. Ninjas are a lot like samurais, but practice the arts considered dishonorable for samurai.

__History of the Ninja__
Due to the fact that there are so few documents about ninjas in history, no one really knows when or how they originated. The main way that we learned its history is by stories passed from generation to generation. In the year of 522 A.D. the art of stealth, "Nonuse", was a religion that was practiced by priests. By the year of 645 A.D. the priests perfected their fighting skills and started to use nonuse in their fighting techniques. These priests weren't usually violent, but the need to protect themselves arose when the central government began to harass them. They decided to try out their new techniques and found they worked quite well. The use of the ninjas however did not come into use until the years 794-1192 A.D. Newer, wealthier families began to form, and with it came the want for power. Fights arose between the families to try to destroy or make emperors. These families needed spies, informants, and assassins so they turned to the ninjas for help.

__Ninja Magic__
Ninjas didn't really know any magic. Most of the "magic" is about spirituality and peace of mind. The ninja magic is called Kuji-in. Kuji-in is basically just hand signs taken from the practices of early Buddhists. These signs were thought to be able to channel energy. Kuji-in was used to build the confidence and strength of a ninja. Your thumb represents the source of power (Ku) and your fingers represent the four elements. There is chi (earth-solids), sui (water-liquids), ka (fire-combustion), and fu (wind-gases). There are a total of 81 hand symbols. Each of these symbols invokes a different talent and strength in the ninja.

__Influence of Ninjas__
Ninjas have a lot of influence in the modern day world. You often see little kids dressed up as ninjas for Halloween. Ninjas also have a big influence in Japanese pop culture and Western pop culture. One big example is Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT). This has become a big hit across the world. This show is completely based on ninjas and their crime fighting.


 * Want to find out how to sneak around like a ninja? Click** [|here.]

Click here to see some of the Ninja Weapons Click here to see the Ninja Knowledge. Click here to see the Japanese Ninja Bibliography.