7 Fun Facts About Ninja That Will Surprise You

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Have you ever curious about ninja? Those shadowy figures that seems to have high stealth skill to conceal themselves in the darkness. These enigmatic warriors have captured our imaginations for centuries, and it turns out there's more to them than just throwing stars and black attire.

In this article, we will dig deeper into the dark world of ninja and uncover some hidden facts about them. From their history to their life, these facts will surely leave you in shock.

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1. They Weren't Called Ninja

Today, we refer to them as ninja, but in their time, they were known as Shinobi or Shinobi-no-mono. The term "ninja" originated from the Chinese reading of the kanji characters.

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2. They Had A Wide Range Of Task

Ninjas were more than just combat experts like the ones you've seen in Naruto. They also excelled at espionage, sabotage, and even assassination.

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3. The First Historical Records of Ninja

According to The Fact Site, the first ever record of ninja was coming from 1375. Ninja was mentioned in Taiheiki, a famous Japanese war epic. This historical epic covering the period between 1319 to 1367. In Taiheiki, there's a story about skilled ninjas destroyed a castle.

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4. The Golden Age of Ninja

Hattori Hanzo, one of the most famous ninja in Sengoku period. (Photo: Wikipedia - Public Domain)

Ninjas reach their peak during the Sengoku Period between 1467-1568. The Sengoku period was a time of great war and chaos in Japan. During this time, the ninja become very popular since many feudal lord need their services during the war. With their skills in espionage, sabotage, and assassination, they played a significant role in the warfare of the time.

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5. Two Big Clans Of Ninja

Bansenshukai, a Japanese book that contains a collection of knowledge from the clans in the Iga and Kōga regions.(Photo: Motokoka - Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

The majority of highly skilled ninjas came from two major clans: Iga and Koga. These clans hailed from mountainous villages in Japan: Iga in Mie Prefecture and Koga in Ibaraki Prefecture. They developed unique skills and techniques and earned the respect of feudal lords.

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6. Shuriken Is A Samurai Weapon

When we talk about ninja's weapon, the first thing that come to our mind is shuriken, or the star-shaped throwing weapon. However, shuriken is actuallymade for samurai as a complement for their swords.

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7. Female Ninja

Ninjas were not only for men. Even women can be a ninja too. They were known as kunoichi. According to History Collection, they often sneaked into enemies' strongholds by disguising as dancers, servants, or concubines. And this tactic is very effective as many people did not expect these women were actually skilled fighters.