Shōninki Explained
The Shōninki (Japanese 正 忍 記) is a medieval ninja document from Kishū province.
Written by Natori Masatake in 1681 it describes the espionage strategies of the shinobi from Kishū. Together with the Bansenshukai and Ninpiden it is one of three major extant writings of the ninja.[1] An original copy of the Shōninki is in the State Library of Tokyo.
Contents
The Shōninki is divided into Preface (Jo), three scrolls (Shomaki, Chumaki, Gemaki) and an epilogue (Okusho).[2]
In the preface, the author discusses the different types of spies and the principles of espionage.[3]
The first scroll addresses basic skills, such as disguise and concealment, house-breaking and information gathering. The second part deals with defense against enemy spies, human nature, physiognomy, recognizing and eliciting the true intentions of people and laying false trails and clues. The final scroll is concerned with one's own emotional states as well as those of other people (including godai).
Bibliography
- Book: 藤一水子正武, 中島篤巳. 忍術伝書正忍記. Shin Jinbutsu Ōraisha. Tokyo. 1996. 978-4404023988.
- Book: Schedler
, Claude
. Shoninki, Historical secret writing of the Ninja. Books on Demand GmbH. Norderstedt. 2004. 978-3833404146.
- Jon E. Graham, trans. Shoninki: The Secret Teachings of the Ninja; The 17th-Century Manual on the Art of Concealment. With commentaries by Axel Mazuer. Rochester, Vt.–Torono: 2010.
- Book: Antony Cummins. Yoshie Minami. True Path of the Ninja: The Definitive Translation of the Shoninki (An Authentic Ninja Training Manual). Berkeley, Calif.. Tuttle. 2012. 978-1583944356.
External links
Notes and References
- "Martial arts of the world: an encyclopedia, Volume 2: Ninjutsu", 2001, Thomas A. Green
- Web site: Ron. Roy. Shōninki. 7 May 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130506124542/http://www.ninpo.org/historicalrecords/shnnkmkrk.htm. 6 May 2013.
- http://metropolis.co.jp/features/feature/following-the-true-path/ "Following the True Path"
