jjares reviewed The Ninja: The History and Legacy of Feudal Japan?s Secret Agents on + 3262 more book reviews
At first, I tried listening to this as an audiotape; there are so many Japanese words included that it hardly made sense. Thus, I reread it with my eyes. I think the author made a fatal mistake with this book. If the author had explained the training, tools, and weapons first, and then woven in the folktales, it would have been more interesting and understandable.
There are lots of folktales about ninja, but little true information. Since the ninjas seem to have been recruited from the lower classes, info about them was considered unimportant. Generally, the ninjas did things (espionage, irregular warfare, surprise attacks, and deception) that were considered to be beneath the dignity of the aristocratic samurai. Although the ninja was around in the 15th century (during the Sengoku Period), they may have existed as early as the 12th century.
The ninja was popular in Japanese legends and folklore. They were associated with abilities, such as invisibility, walking on water, and having control over natural elements. Thus, the modern perception is based more the legends and folktales than on the ninjas active during the Sengoku Period.
There are lots of folktales about ninja, but little true information. Since the ninjas seem to have been recruited from the lower classes, info about them was considered unimportant. Generally, the ninjas did things (espionage, irregular warfare, surprise attacks, and deception) that were considered to be beneath the dignity of the aristocratic samurai. Although the ninja was around in the 15th century (during the Sengoku Period), they may have existed as early as the 12th century.
The ninja was popular in Japanese legends and folklore. They were associated with abilities, such as invisibility, walking on water, and having control over natural elements. Thus, the modern perception is based more the legends and folktales than on the ninjas active during the Sengoku Period.
