During the period of Japanese history known as Feudal Japan, there were many warring fiefs, or

states, with different lords. Their objective was unifying Japan. and, it couldn't have been done

without the help of samurais and ninjas. Samurais had masters and went by a code of conduct

known as Bushido. The ninjas were just thieves and hired assassins. What else can be learned

about these warriors? Some questions that might pique a person's curiosity are many. How did

they training? What requirements had to be met to become a master? How has modern day Japan

been influenced by its medieval history? Feudal Japan has had much influence on Japan's shape

into modern day.

"The kami came into existence on a plane parallel to the Prime Materia, whence Japan is

created after Izanagi (the male) 'dips his spear into the ocean and creates Japan along with

Izanami (the female). They procure a pantheon of gods, and it is through this natural divinity that

the hegemony of the Yamato House is mythically legitimized" (Lewis 1999). Here Lewis explains

the myth of how Japan was created. He uses reference in relating the relationship of man, with the

kami, or gods.

"Kobutai refers to the traditional assertion that feudal Japanese have divine roots, and but

one Imperial Line." (Lewis 1999) . This explains of how the Japanese felt about themselves, and

how proud they were of their own culture. Not only that, they felt as if to be more superior beings

than any other race on the planet. "Although the Emperor is the logical apex of this

structure.....the lower classes were not allowed to lay eyes upon him." (Staff 1999). Like all

feudal systems there were many classes. Only a few lived lavish lifestyles, while many work as

slaves.

At the top of the chain was the emperor, he spent most of his time isolated in the palace.

The emperors felt so bored that they often became monks. This allowed for more freedom and

the ability to travel beyond Kyoto, (Japanese capital). Many times the emperor was only a

symbolic representation of authority, because the real power holders of Japan were the Shoguns,

(Japan's top military oligarchy).

Next in line were the Kuge, "The Kuge ran Japan's central government....they held many

powerful positions." (staff 1999) Indeed, just as in any feudal system, they were the nobles, and

aristocrats. Their lives were based upon the government most of the time, which in occupied all

their spare time.

Just below the Kuge came the Buke. They were Japan's military class. Started around

1100, this class includes samurai, ashigaru (foot soldiers), and daimyo (governor-general). Their

main duty was to act out the duties enacted to them by the Kuges, some of which included

leadership of different geographic regions.

At the bottom of the list are the Bonge. They were the common people. "These

unfortunate people have the lowest social ranking besides the Ainu. Who are considered wild

barbarians." (Mcdowell 1996) The people of this class often wanted to distinguish themselves so

within this class were subclasses. Ryoke were independent land owners and farmers, Gesakukin

were renter farmers, and Genin were craftsmen and laborers. These common people struggled

and worked like slaves for the higher classes. A good example of this is that 95% of the people

supported the rice needs of the 5% who were higher class. This often caused many riots and

rebellions. The samurai were called upon to break up the turmoil. This lead to the samurai

becoming an official class.

The Samurai became an official class, but how did that happen? "War played a central

part in the history of Japan." (Staff 1999) For the most part, the struggle was the one often

repeated thoughtout history, the controlling of land. About 20% of Japan's land was fit for

farming. No wonder it was so valuable. This struggle, along with the rebellion of the lower

classes helped the samurai to be distinguished as a class. "Emperor Keiko was cunning, fearless,

strong, and a great marital artist" (Mcgee 1999). Emperor Keiko was an important person.

Legend says he was the first person obtain the title of Shogun, or General of Japan. He was

important because the legend goes on to say his son Prince Yamato, through his father's

teachings, set the role for the samurai.

Ancient Yayoi warriors developed weapons, armor, and a code which, during the

centuries, became the core of the samurai. The ancient weapons were bows, arrows, and swords.

Armor included a helmet protecting the head and neck, a breastplate for chest protection, arm and

shoulder protectors, and a belly wrap. Later forms of armor came to include leg and thigh

protectors. The reason for changes in armor was the change in fighting technique. In the fifth

century, horses were being imported to Japan. This led the samurai to fight with bows and on

horses. "After seeing the skill of Mongols on horseback...the samurai later changed their ways of

fighting ." (Mcgee 1999) Later on, in the 13th century, when battling with Mongols, their

methods changed to ground. They used swords during close range combat for beheading foes.

The long sword was 24 inches, while the short was between 12 and 24 inches. The samurai often

believed their swords were their souls.

With the demand for stronger swords over the centuries, the straight swords became the

long curved ones seen today. The sword began as iron combined with carbon. The swordsmiths

used fire, water, anvil, and hammer to shape these swords. After forging the blade, the sword

was then polished. Then the sword was tested for its sharpness. "The sword tester took the blade

and cut through bodies of criminals"(Mcdowell 1999). Tests of these swords were often recorded

on the nakago, or the metal piece attaching the sword blade to the handle.

Against such a skilled warrior class, how were the common people of Japan going to

strike back? "The ninjas came from the working class people, the farmers" (Tanemura 1994).

Their only hope was finding a way to fight back. The ninja became the form of defense against

the samurai.

Ninjas originated more than 800 years ago among the common people of Japan. The

ninjas (Japanese for stealers-in) were those who revolted against the warrior class. They left to

the barren, cold and mountainous regions of Iga and Koga. There is were they trained in the arts

of war. Their training is based upon a great Chinese book written by Sun Tzu called the Art of

War. Over centuries they trained in every martial art known. Their main objectives were

espionage and assassination by any means possible, but their training also took them to spiritual

states. They trained to increase mental abilities and expand their human endurance.

In order to train for a ninja, a child started at a young age around 2. The kids played

games that taught them unarmed combat, swordsmanship, use of weapons, camouflage, and

escape. With ninjas earning a name among the warrior class, the warrior class started to fear

them. even the samurai, when approaching a particular region known to be controlled by ninjas

watched his back.

Over the centuries, the ninjas practiced all in secrecy, no one knew anything about them

except the ninjas themselves. They had many power techniques. The physical ones were called

outside techniques. The more complex and deadly moves of the ninja were in the inside

techniques. "The basics of running, camouflage, and stealth were the outside techniques of the

ninja. The inside techniques were dangerous. " Certain secret medicines can be very dangerous if

taught the wrong people. Masters, and only masters with kind hearts are taught these techniques.

They are taught through direct teachings" (Tanemura 1994). These secret techniques include use

of poisonous powders, ways to kill a person with a single blow, and torture techniques.

So with the warring states of Japan in constant warfare, what happened?

After the break up of Feudal Japan during the 1900s, the once warrior class of the samurai

became modern martial artists. The techniques of the ninja have been absorbed into Japan's

Secret Service. Today ninja has developed into a modern form of martial arts known as Ninjitsu,

practiced by many from around the world. The traditional art, once used for self-defense, now is

used as a way to maintain the body, mind and soul. The samurai sword techniques are taught as a

sport.

Though out history, not just in Feudal Japan but in Europe, people have developed ways

to put up with oppression and unfair treatment. As we look though history most conflicts were

over land and oppression. An example we all are familiar with is immigration to the Americas. It

started with white settlers coming over and taking the land of the Native Americans, and

continues with struggles of Afro-Americans and others for the right to claim America as their

homeland too.

Whatever the case cannot put a whole people at a lower class and treat them less human

than yourself, put more of a burden on them than what they are able to do. Just as the higher

classes of Japanese society, did to the common people, as the white slave owners did to the

slaves. In the case of Japan the samurai and ninjas, so if we treat each other fairly maybe the

world would be a better place, but that rarely ever happens. Why? Because It is human nature to

want more and be better than those around us.