I noticed some artist's depictions of ninjas show them wielding samurai swords (oval haft) instead of ninja kens (square haft). Is this intentional or is it a lack of understanding? Do ninjas revere the samurai sword as a supreme weapon over their ninja kens?
2007-11-27 22:44:47 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Martial Arts
Hi there
I love this type of question.
Here goes.
Firstly yes ninjas did use samurai swords. As some people have mentioned already some shinobi were indeed samurai. There were many schools (ryu ha). Many scholars believe there may have been up to 72 different styles of ninjutsu operating in Japan during the warring states period. Some where specifically ninja only family's such as the Momochi family but others were samurai that trained in the ninpo arts. They were never bandits or pirates. So you have TV to blame for this one. They were infact military trained personnel. Afterall nearly all wars are won by gathering information and cheating so there was a need for warriors with this skill base.
All this was kept under wraps because it went againts the ways of Bushido and the Japanese people but it did indeed happen.
The ninjato or straight bladed sword with its square hilt (tsuba) is a modern fantasy. It never existed. There are none to be found in any war museums. Again blame TV for that one too.
A real ninjato or biken as its often called looks the same as a normal katana but its about 6 inch shorter. This was so that it could be drawn quicker and to disguise it. Being a ninja and having a sword that would identify you as one would just be silly!
This article just about breaks it down for you. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see what a real one looks like.
http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/ninja-swords.html
The reason why you see so many artists impressions of ninja with straight swords dressed in black is simply because they didnt do their research very well. Dont even get me started on the whole black ninja image. Again another TV/kabuki blunder.
Best wishes
idai
2007-11-28 00:14:56 · answer #1 · answered by idai 5 · 5⤊ 2⤋
Ninjas Swords
2016-11-06 20:03:51 · answer #2 · answered by Erika 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is entirely possible as some were actually Samurai. Also ninjas used whatever they could acquire or make as most were peasant farmers whop simply didn't have the money to pay a blacksmith to make them weapons and in many areas members of the lower class were prohibited from owning swords.
So a ninja could very well have obtained a samurai sword in battle or by stealing.
2007-11-28 01:36:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
yes they did.
Some of the ninja were actually part of the samurai but chose the life of the ninja as a side job
also the quality of ninja swords was usually very poor due to the fact that they needed to be a dispensable weapon. Often when beating a samurai the ninja would steal his swords
2007-11-27 23:41:25 · answer #4 · answered by peter gunn 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
A ninja is not limited to the choice of weaponry used to achieve his goals. Korean swords would also be used by the ninja (long and straight, with a straight handle and large 'T' shaped tang).
Also the Samurai would frequently utilize ninja tradecraft to win a war or battle (illusion, misdirection, stealth tactics, and 'tricks'). And Samurai lords were known to employ ninja for various missions, purposes, and for battlefield fighting. So it wouldn't be unusual for a ninja to weild a standard katana (long sword).
Ninja essentially revered nothing. Samurai considered the ninja as vermin.
2007-11-28 01:39:43 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
The only ones that I think would have a Samurai Sword would be a Samurai that is also a Ninja in secret! That would make sense to me.
Ray has is right.
2007-11-28 03:49:30 · answer #6 · answered by Legend Gates Shotokan Karate 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
the "ninja-to" never existed. it is purely a fantasy sword based upon the "choku-to" which is a straight bladed katana (the sword is forged specifically to prevent the natural curve from taking place which would normally occur during the process of creating a katana due to the method which katanas were smithed).
there is question as to whether the ninja existed historically at all. however the depictions and art yous see is the basis for another theory, one that says that ninja didn't exist as portrayed in movies as "clans" but were actually samurai trained in the art of espionage to act as a sort of "special forces" spy for thier lord.
2007-11-28 02:51:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Ninjato were straight blades, shorter than Katana. All this revering stuff is not realistic. Their sword was also a survival tool.
There is no legend attached to this. This is a western fabrication. Ninja were assassins for hire... different from the mercenaries of today due to their Japanese heritage.
They did what they were paid to do.
All that other stuff you read is sensationalization.
2007-11-28 04:02:22 · answer #8 · answered by Darth Scandalous 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no no no ninjas do not wield samuri swords. why? Because they are mostly sneaking around all the time and dont wanna be seen or heard. a big sword wouldnt work out for them so they carry around only small but sharp weapons that can take someone out instantly without making a sound and easier to carry
2007-11-27 23:03:16 · answer #9 · answered by lilman1135 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Some ninja were samurai, so yes.
2007-11-27 23:05:39 · answer #10 · answered by Ray H 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋