RE: Ninja or Samurai
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Dec 18, 2004 20:58
Hmm. I' ve read lots of stupid comments about ninjas and samurai in this forum and I have to say it' s kinda fun. Anyway, I think the easiest way to choose your favourite is to think " what proffessions today are most like the ninja or samurai?"
Well, ninjas were assassins, no doubt, but they were also used as elite troops in regular battles, not wearing the black clothing but real samurai armor. They could also be used as ninja spies more known as Shinobi. Many ninja were also of samurai breed so there were people who were both. Some ninjas were loyal to a Daimyo and later, when the Tokugawa ruled, to the shogunate. Ninja clans lived on as spies and secret police to prevent rebellions. Some ninja were not loyal and could be hired for the right amount of money. So what are the ninja today if not the CIA and similar organisations? Hmm? So in a sence the ninja still exists. So if you like CIA, James Bond and things like that, go with the ninja!
The samurai were warriors who served a daimyo. If they didn' t serve anyone they were called ronin. It' s romantic to think of them as 100 % loyal, and just but such was not reality. Only a few of the warriors were real men of honour so sadly most of the samurai were truly evil people, raping, murdering, and abusing the people for their own profit. BUT, the romantic ideas of the samurai are completely different. They were not only soldiers but men of honour. They were supposed to be good at other things than fighting, such as writing, painting, and being able to live civiliced ith other noble men. This is a part the ninja did not have to do. So if you like the army and that stuff or spiritual and intellectual people, go with the samurai!
About the combat techniques they practicly use the same. The only thing ninja are more trained in is the use of poison. But techniques such as shuriken throwing ,who many believe ninjas only used, were used by the samurai as well. They both used katanas and bows and most of the weapons at that time. So samurai did not only use the katana! Ninpo taijutsu techniques are very similar to ju-jutsu techniques.
Anyway, personally I prefer the ninja. Why? Well, there were more samurai than ninja and I lwould ike to be something special...
Anyway, I' m not perfect, I probably have lots of errors about the ninja and samurai but I have worked with many people that know japanese history very well, as well as skilled practisioners in the arts of ninpo taijutsu (bujinkan) and ju-jutsu.