Samurai vs Ninja, Differences between Samurai and Ninja | WeXpats Guide (2023)

FAQs

What are the differences between samurai and ninja? ›

One of the major differences between the samurai and the ninja is who they exactly are. Samurai were warriors that belonged to the noble classes of ancient Japanese society. On the other hand, ninjas were often mercenaries, spies, and assassins, and would often belong to the lower classes of ancient Japanese society.

Samurai & Ninja Similarities

Samurai and ninjas were both groups of military professionals. They both worked through Japanese history, but were especially active during the Warring States period.

The ninjas and samurai fought constantly, never giving up. The ninjas would come in and assassinate the Samurais' leaders, and the Samurai would fight back, resulting in hundreds of people dying on almost every encounter. Some of there fights were so bad that they called them wars.

Knights rode horses and used their swords and shields in battle. Samurai can ride a horse and walk on their feet as well. Samurai used arrows, bows, and two swords during the battle. Knight had the military rank, but the samurai did not.

There are two types of ninjutsu, "Innin" (Ninjutsu of Darkness) and "Yonin" (Ninjutsu of Light). Innin is a way of seeking an inside information and sabotaging by breaking into the enemy territory concealing themselves, the appearance of ninja which generally people imagine is of this situation.

Yes, Some Ninja Were Samurai | Ninja Myths Revealed: Japanese Fighters Didn't Wear Black | TIME.com.

Ninjas mainly used swords as their primary weapon. They have used ninjato many times, but the shreds of evidence have not appeared yet. It is a short sword resembling katana. The blade of a ninja sword is flat, and its scabbard is also used as a space for blinding powders to distract enemies.

The ways of the ninja are an unavoidable part of samurai warfare, and no samurai can ignore the utility and fear that they represented. However, ninjas were despised because of how they contradicted the samurai code due to their use of secretive and underhanded methods.

Sneaky ninja predecessors probably existed as far back as the late Heian Period too. However, the shinobi, as a specially trained group of mercenaries from the villages of Iga and Koga, only appeared in the fifteenth century – making them a good five hundred years younger than the samurai.

The Japanese legend of Prince Yamato is often considered the first ninja story, although Yamato did not adopt the black costume or stealthy tactics so often associated with ninja.

What are ninjas called in Japan? ›

A ninja (忍者, Japanese pronunciation: [ɲiꜜɲdʑa]) or shinobi (忍び, [ɕinobi]) was a covert agent or mercenary in feudal Japan.

To the contemporary imagination, samurai warriors remain symbols of honor, courage and discipline. These three qualities are desirable not only for the life dedicated to battle but for existence itself.

Bushido mentions the eight virtues of a Samurai being: Morality, courage, compassion, politeness, honesty/sincerity, respect, loyalty, character plus self-cControl.

Kunoichi (Japanese: くノ一, also くのいち or クノイチ) is a Japanese cant term for "woman" (女, onna). In popular culture, it is often used for female shinobi or practitioner of ninjutsu (ninpo). The term was largely popularized by novelist Yamada Futaro in his novel Ninpō Hakkenden (忍法八犬伝) in 1964.

Clan leaders also often recruit and mentor other ninja. The Jōnin (上忍 Master Ninja) is the highest rank of ninja, serving under the Chief Ninja.

Ronin simply means unemployed. By not having a set master, these unemployed warriors were certainly looked down upon. They were seen as one rank below a proper, landed warrior. The same can be said about Ninjas particularly in early Sengoku period.

In rugged terrain, or in the mountain area, the ninja group may win. The ninja has better survival skills as a small group. If it is a large-group fight, the samurai can easily win. The ninja and the samurai usually collaborated.

Long before the Western world began to view Samurai warriors as inherently male, there existed an impressive group of Female Samurai, every bit as powerful, smart and deadly as their male counterparts. They were known as the Onna-bugeisha (meaning female martial artist).

In feudal Japan, ninjas were a lower class of warriors often recruited by samurai and governments to act as spies.

What is a real ninja sword called? ›

The ninjatō is typically depicted as being a short sword, often portrayed as having a straight blade (similar to that of a shikomizue) with a square guard. Usually of a length "less than 60 cm", the rest of the sword is comparatively "thick, heavy and straight".

The two widely recognized variations of the kunai are short kunai (小苦無 shō-kunai) and the big kunai (大苦無 dai-kunai). Although a basic tool, in the hands of a martial arts expert, the kunai could be used as a multi-functional weapon. The kunai is commonly associated with the ninja, who used it to gouge holes in walls.

Of course, the ninja excelled in all the martial arts of their day, such as kendo,kyudo and naginata-do. They were also skilled in hand-to-hand combat, using wrestling and boxing techniques that were the forerunners of judo and karate.

Unfortunately, the Samurai is exceptionally weak against magical and explosive attacks, and in most multiplayer matches, Samurais often die during the first moments of the battle, with units such as Musketeers, Unclean Ones and Warlocks being quite common choices.

a hedge of ninjas. “ We are a hedge. Please move along” a stealth of ninja.

Often called “hara-kiri” in the West, “seppuku” is a form of ritual suicide that originated with Japan's ancient samurai warrior class. The grisly act typically involved stabbing oneself in the belly with a short sword, slicing open the stomach and then turning the blade upwards to ensure a fatal wound.

The short answer is yes, and they still exist today, but their origins might be a little different from your imagination. Let's go over some of your burning questions about ninjas and where to see them on your next trip to Japan.

More accurately called shinobi, ninjas were a group that could be considered secret agents or mercenaries in Japan. They were thought of as ranking beneath the samurai warriors for their 'alternative' practices of accomplishing their missions.

There were three principal ranks: gokenin (housemen), the lowest and vassals of a feudal lord. goshi (rustic warrior), they could farm their land but could not have the two swords of the full samurai rank. hatamoto (bannermen), the highest rank.

Jiraiya, Tsunade and Orochimaru are the Legendary Sannin in Naruto. There is no doubt about their powerful strength. Jiraiya once defeated Six Paths of Pain, While Orochimaru won out in the Sannin War.

Who is the deadliest ninja? ›

And so it goes, after just four years of pure, unadulterated hard work and dedication, Enzo became the youngest competitor ever to grace the stage of American Ninja Warrior, setting unbelievable records and making memories that he admits still feel surreal.

But Jinichi Kawakami is reputedly Japan's last ninja. As the 21st head of the Ban clan, a line of ninjas that can trace its history back some 500 years, Kawakami is considered by some to be the last living guardian of Japan's secret spies.

Groups of ninja are said to have existed all over Japan, studying in as many as 71 distinct schools of ninja arts (the exact number is debated). Among them, Mie Prefecture's Iga-ryu ninja and Shiga Prefecture's Koka-ryu ninja are especially famous.

Shogun (将軍, shōgun, Japanese: [ɕoːɡɯɴ] ( listen); English: /ˈʃoʊɡʌn/ SHOH-gun), officially Sei-i Taishōgun (征夷大将軍, "Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Force Against the Barbarians"), was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868.

According to Inazo Nitobe's book Bushido, the lives of the samurai warriors were ruled by 7 principles called Bushido. These 7 rules were Righteousness, Loyalty, Honor, Respect, Honesty, Courage and Consistency.

The two swords of the samurai, katana and wakizashi, are together known as daisho and are worn inserted in the belt with the edge facing upwards.

The collection of ideals that we know as Bushido represents the Samurai code of honor. The tenets of the Bushido code are rectitude, courage, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor, loyalty, wisdom, and care for the elderly.

It taught the Samurai to be fearless in battle and kind to family and elders. There were seven main virtues that the Samurai were expected to maintain: justice, courage, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor, and loyalty. Morality is defined in two different ways in Japanese culture.

What is a group of samurai called? ›

People took up arms and formed bands of warriors, basically self-defense groups, to keep others from stealing the land they had cleared. The members of these groups were known as “Bushi.”

Honor was a samurai's life. Upholding one's honor through suicide was regarded as a virtue. Loss of face was regarded as an insult that had be avenged. Surrender was an unforgivable sin that resulted in exclusion from civilized society.

The daimyō were high-ranking members of the samurai, and, similar to the shōgun, held most of the real political power in Japan.

The samurai class was eventually abolished in the Meiji Reforms of the 19th century, after enjoying hundreds of years of power and influence. Ninja 忍者 (known as “shinobi”忍び in Japan) were essentially ye olde equivalent of secret agents, whose role involved espionage, sabotage, infiltration and assassination.

Ninja swords were more the length of the Samurai's Katana but were straight edged instead of curved. This was because the Ninja did not have access to the high-carbon steel that the elite had. The Ninja used his sword in a stabbing motion. Thus the need for more stealth as they had to get closer to their victims.

In rugged terrain, or in the mountain area, the ninja group may win. The ninja has better survival skills as a small group. If it is a large-group fight, the samurai can easily win. The ninja and the samurai usually collaborated.