Ninjas have been the subject of many legends, but what do we really know about them? It turns out that it’s surprisingly difficult to find out the facts about this famous bunch of warriors because so much of what we think we know about them turns out to be a myth, or at least an exaggeration. Here are eight strange facts about ninjas that you might not know...but probably should!
1) Did you know that Ninja only began as a derogatory term?
The ninja became a popular image in Japanese culture due to their performance during Japan’s Warring States period, which lasted from 1467 to 1568. During that time, Japan was fractured into numerous independent states; two were allied with samurai clans—the Iga and Koga provinces—and home to specialized warriors. They came to be known as ninjas. But why is it that no one knows where these ninjas came from?
2) Did you know more people died from bee stings in Japan than Ninjas killing people?
It was at night and I had crept into an enemy fortress and planted my dynamite. As I lit it, I heard one of them shout, Fire in your own palace! It was too late for me to escape. The explosion broke my bones and seared my flesh but still I went on fighting till dawn. When at last I lay on the ground a heap of dying flesh, one of them came up and spat upon me. Then they all walked away without killing me. Of course they knew that they could not kill me with their naked hands: nobody could do that! My men found my battered body near daybreak; they carried it home on a litter after cutting off my head to prove that I was dead...(Hatakeyama Misaaki).
3) Did you know the first use of dynamite was used by ninja assassins?
The concept of dynamite is largely attributed to Alfred Nobel, but it was actually invented by a ninja in feudal Japan. Explosives had a prominent role in ninjutsu, as ninjas relied on bombs to destroy buildings and assassinate enemies during sieges. It turns out these skills were useful outside of battle; according to an historical text, Shoninki: The Secret Techniques for Ninjas, a ninja named Sengan Yoshigatana used black powder hidden inside a cane (dynamite came hundreds of years later) to kill three enemy samurai before blowing himself up.
4) Did you know some ninjas were men, who sometimes dressed as women to sneak behind enemy lines?
There is a common misconception that all ninjas were women. While it’s true there were some female ninjas, they often dressed as men to hide their gender. Many male ninja warriors also disguised themselves as women. They did so because they felt certain targets would be more willing to open up to another woman than a man—particularly when it came to sharing military secrets. It was also easier for them to travel undetected in areas where enemy soldiers might search for men but not women. A skilled ninja could change his or her appearance and even voice at will by using special techniques of breathing and speaking. These techniques are still used today in Japanese theater, called kyogen (kyo-gen). It was said that even babies born into families of ninjas had these abilities from birth!
5) Did you know Ninja clans were matriarchal and women could be extremely deadly warriors?
In addition to being stealthy assassins, ninjas were known for their ruthless tactics and formidable fighting skills. But here are a few facts you may not know: ninja clans were matriarchal, with female leaders as well as male; there is evidence that some clans had female warriors—something of a rarity in ancient Japan; members of Japan’s shōgun family at one point employed an all-female team of ninja assassins called kunoichi (literally female ninja); and Japanese law allowed anyone to be killed if they were considered dangerous or likely to cause harm. And while it’s difficult to prove exactly how many people ninjas killed over time, estimates have reached into the hundreds of thousands.
1)Did you know some techniques created by this martial art are still used today?
The martial art of ninjutsu, which translates to art of stealth, can trace its origins back over 3,000 years ago. As time passed and ninjutsu became more and more developed, people discovered a number of techniques that are still being used today. Ninjutsu teaches you how to survive in treacherous conditions like deep forest areas or mountaintops where you have limited resources. This type of martial art is also great for your mental health because it helps you manage stress and maintain calmness in stressful situations. The thing I love most about ninjutsu is that it teaches you to be flexible with your movements so you can adapt to your surroundings and get out of tricky situations.
6) Did you know there are different schools of thought on which movies depict real ninjutsu?
Most Ninja’s believed in Shintoism, a Japanese religion that often incorporates elements of Confucianism and Buddhism. However, there were exceptions—some ninjas were not affiliated with any particular religion. One reason for belief in reincarnation could be because of their training, as ninjas would often commit to a life of self-discipline, death and secrecy; so believing they may return in another form would help them deal with death.
Another school of thought was that some ninja’s didn't believe in reincarnation at all. They felt that if you died without accomplishing your goal or mission then you had failed your master and therefore wasted your life. A third school of thought was that some ninja's did believe in reincarnation but only after reaching enlightenment through many lives, which is very similar to what other religions believe. The most common thing shared among all schools of thought is a fearlessness toward death and an understanding that it will happen one day whether you like it or not.
8) Did you know many ninja say they believe in reincarnation when asked about religion?
Ninja teach reincarnation. I believe that our souls do not die, but travel from one body to another over and over again. – page 34 of The 47 Samurai by Eric Van Lustbader, published in 1989. This isn’t an isolated example of ninja beliefs – most historical records indicate ninjas believed in reincarnation. The man pictured above is Jubei Yagyu, a famous Japanese swordsman who was immortalized as a character in novels like Shogun and Ninja Scroll. It’s unclear whether he actually believed his soul would be reborn into another body or whether he simply felt it was good PR, but it indicates just how pervasive ninja belief systems were in Japan at one time.
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