Read Online In Search of the Niinja by Antony Cummins - Free Book Online

hidden ninja agents.
    Ihara Yori Fumi was a samurai active in the early part of the 1700s and was retained by the Fukui domain to teach the Gunpo arts or the military arts to the clan. Further to this, he held the position of shinobi no mono shihai or ‘ninja commander’ and his job was to orchestrate the shinobi of that domain and ensure that their system of spies was working correctly. His position as a shinobi and ninja commander underlines the respect given to the ninja arts from a military perspective and the need for individual provinces to undertake espionage on a committed level. In his manual he states that raiding groups should consist of ten shinobi and 25 ‘fighting samurai’ and that there are difficulties in leading and taking charge of ‘fighting samurai’ on night raids. These difficulties are highlighted in Yoshimori’ s ninja poems and show that shinobi are needed to lead squads of men at night, as they are trained in this matter. The Shoninki states that ninja used to be known as Yato , or leaders in the night, as they took command of samurai teams. So samurai bowed to the command of shinobi, men who were considered to be essential for the job. Ihara Yori Fumi has the shinobi as the leader in the following quotation from his manual:

    In peace times when you go to other provinces on missions you should take those of a lower [social] position 41 and carry alternative 42 rain coats, spare clothes and so on. You should reach for the appropriate contact and proper person. This is how you will be able to see and hear [what you need to]. Before you go to a place of importance you should leave your swords somewhere and you, as the master, should exchange places with those below you ( ge-nin ). Or you may take on the form of a merchant, pilgrim or yamabushi.

    Alongside obvious references to social class, his writings also contain more subtle clues to the position of a ninja as here he advises changing places with servants to aid in disguise, showing that having servants was usual for a shinobi.

    When taking part in a mission within your own province, and as it is secret, you should frequent suspicious 43 places. Further to this do not carry luggage and do not hire labourers [to aid you] but stay stealthy and investigate. This way people will give you lodgings with ease.

    Ihara Yori Fumi does not stop there as he instructs on measures to be taken by a shinobi commander to ensure the secrecy of his teachings: ‘[A shinobi commander] should have lower people sign a blood oath with their fingerprint before they teach them how to capture prisoners, of archery and of gunnery.’
    The Onmitsuhiji shinobi-dai scroll gives an insight into rank within a ninja band:

    When entering a battle, you should carry arrows, guns, an investigation or measuring rod, togikinawa, 44 tools to help cross moats and rivers, stone wall climbing tools, Donohi [body warmers and fire lighting equipment], torches and fire projectiles. The highest ranking person should plan the forthcoming infiltration. Remember not to throw away your tools as they may come into the possession of the enemy and your plan may be detected. Remove your armour when you steal in.

    A later piece of evidence comes from the Gohoko no Shina Kakiage document, which is a record of the retainers who served in the Okayama domain. It has an interesting case that indicates the social level of the shinobi . In 1864 a ninja was punished for becoming involved in money lending with common people. The mention of ‘ninja’ in contrast to ‘common people’ in itself makes them of a higher social class. The restriction on money lending is a samurai prohibition, implying that the ninja in question was restricted from lending or borrowing due to his social position as a samurai. And finally, the document is a list of retainers, that is, samurai, or at the lowest, military staff above the peasantry.
    Having established that ninja were taken from any class and that often