In an era more than eight centuries ago Japan was composed of many independent feudal
states. As warlords struggled to gain power, war was frequent, with many losses on all sides.
One Samurai, DAISUKE NISHINA, disenchanted with war and the seemingly never ending
wasting of life left the fields of war and retreated into the mountains. His aim was to leave
behind the death and destruction of war, and to find peace for himself. Whilst living in the
mountains he came across the warrior priest, Kagakure Doshi.
With the new understanding of life and religion he gained from Doshi, he decided to spend his
days living in the remote mountain area. During this time Japan underwent a form of
unification, and the ruling warlords decided to assist in this unification everyone should follow
the same religion. Those refusing to change their religion were persecuted and many fled to
the hills. Those that stayed were "convinced" of the wisdom in accepting another religious
principle. Soon word spread of those in the hills following an alternative religion, and it was
decided that those people also should be converted. During this time Doshi and Nishina,
being worldly wise, had foreseen this and had trained all refugees in the fighting system they
had created. And so were born the YAMABUSHI, the mountain warriors.
states. As warlords struggled to gain power, war was frequent, with many losses on all sides.
One Samurai, DAISUKE NISHINA, disenchanted with war and the seemingly never ending
wasting of life left the fields of war and retreated into the mountains. His aim was to leave
behind the death and destruction of war, and to find peace for himself. Whilst living in the
mountains he came across the warrior priest, Kagakure Doshi.
With the new understanding of life and religion he gained from Doshi, he decided to spend his
days living in the remote mountain area. During this time Japan underwent a form of
unification, and the ruling warlords decided to assist in this unification everyone should follow
the same religion. Those refusing to change their religion were persecuted and many fled to
the hills. Those that stayed were "convinced" of the wisdom in accepting another religious
principle. Soon word spread of those in the hills following an alternative religion, and it was
decided that those people also should be converted. During this time Doshi and Nishina,
being worldly wise, had foreseen this and had trained all refugees in the fighting system they
had created. And so were born the YAMABUSHI, the mountain warriors.
Many years passed before the Yamabushi became known as NINJA. Because of their
total split with society the Ninja families went underground, and to counter-act the
constant harassment they formed various strategies, from spy networks, to disguise and
of course assassination. These were naturally for their own defence and survival. What
better way of defending yourself than knowing when and where your enemy would attack?
If you know the enemy army is larger than your own, better fed, better armed, and you
have little chance of defeating him in open warfare, then why not assassinate the leaders
of the opposing army.
An army with no generals has no direction, after all. Soon the feuding warlords saw the
advantage of having these resources for their own use, and the Ninja families began to
be employed by the SHOGUN to help his personal disputes. Nishina had by now returned
to the place of his birth, The Togakure village and to celebrate being "born again" took
the name of the village as his own.
total split with society the Ninja families went underground, and to counter-act the
constant harassment they formed various strategies, from spy networks, to disguise and
of course assassination. These were naturally for their own defence and survival. What
better way of defending yourself than knowing when and where your enemy would attack?
If you know the enemy army is larger than your own, better fed, better armed, and you
have little chance of defeating him in open warfare, then why not assassinate the leaders
of the opposing army.
An army with no generals has no direction, after all. Soon the feuding warlords saw the
advantage of having these resources for their own use, and the Ninja families began to
be employed by the SHOGUN to help his personal disputes. Nishina had by now returned
to the place of his birth, The Togakure village and to celebrate being "born again" took
the name of the village as his own.
History
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