Samurai vs Ninja, Differences between Samurai and Ninja

WeXpats
2023/01/26

Samurai and ninja, who are popular in Japanese anime and movies, actually existed in Japan until around the Edo period. Many people wonder who would win in a samurai vs ninja fight, and what the difference between them are. So, find out in this article.


Table of Contents

  1. What is the difference between samurai and ninja?
  2. Samurai, Till the Edo Period 
  3. Ninja, The Role of Spies in Japan
  4. Experience Being a Samurai or Ninja in Japan
  5. To Close

What is the difference between samurai and ninja? 

Samurai were those who served the nobility, whilst ninja were those who used ninjutsu to disrupt enemies and gather information.

The word samurai is derived from the word「見守る mimamoru」, or “watch over”, and there were some among them who did not learn martial arts. As time went by, the meaning of samurai changed, and it became known as military soldiers or warriors who wielded a Japanese sword

Ninja, on the other hand, have always been working invisibly like spies. During the Warring States period (Sengoku period), they served powerful warriors (Daimyo - feudal lords). Ninja rarely use Japanese swords like samurai, instead using shuriken, blowguns, and makibishi (Japanese caltrop). 

As you can see, samurai and ninja are very different people with very different purposes. 

Samurai, Till the Edo Period

Samurai were active from the late Heian period to the Edo period. They wore traditional Japanese garments called hakama (袴) and had a distinctive hairstyle called chonmage (ちょんまげ; topknot). During battle, they wore heavy helmets with poor ventilation. To avoid getting rashes, they shaved the top of their heads and tied the hair at the back of their heads together. There were especially many samurai during the Sengoku period when many battles were fought. 

Difference between Samurai and Bushi

Bushi (武士), used synonymously with samurai, is a general term for people who make a living by fighting. A distinction is made between those who have no one to serve, such as ronin (masterless samurai), nobushi (wandering samurai), and ashigaru (foot soldiers), and those who serve nobility who are called samurai. The term “bushi” was first used to refer to group of warriors, called “bushidan (武士団)”, who fought to protect land they had cultivated from being taken away. In modern times however, the terms samurai and bushi are rarely distinguished from each other. 

Samurai and bushi respected their own code of ethics called “bushido (武士道)”, and followed rules such as sticking to justice and not lying. Fighting fair and square without cheating was regarded as a virtue, and anyone who violated bushido was not recognised as a samurai no matter how strong they were. 

Only Samurai were Permitted to Wear Swords after the Sword Hunt

From the Azuchi-Momoyama period onwards, the sword-hunting (刀狩 katana-gari) order issued by Toyotomi Hideyoshi prohibited all but samurai from carrying swords. The sword hunt led to the saying “the sword is the samurai’s soul (日本刀は武士の魂)”, and the samurai strengthened their positions as the ruling class. 

During the Edo period, in particular, the samurai were a privileged class. Unlike farmers and merchants, samurai were allowed to take on surnames and to carry a sword around their waist, this is called “taitou (帯刀)”. Since there were only a handful of samurai, their social status was solidified, and many people still admire them today. 

No Samurai or Bushi in Modern Japan

Many people wonder if samurai still exist in Japan today. The answer is no, there are no samurai or bushi in modern Japan today. Samurai and bushi gradually disappeared as a result of the administrative reforms during the Meiji period called「廃藩置県 haihanchiken」, or “Abolition of Feudal Domains and Establishment of Prefectures”

One of the reasons for this was the Sword Prohibition Order (廃刀令) that banned samurai and bushi from carrying swords. Samurai who served dual roles as officials and military personnel lost their positions with both roles separated into two independent professions. In the early Meiji period, samurai with topknots could still be seen, but eventually and gradually they found other occupations that utilised their special skills. 

In modern Japan, the Act for Controlling the Possession of Firearms or Swords and Other Such Weapons (銃刀法) prohibits the possession of Japanese swords. 

To learn more about samurai, check out our <How much does the average Japanese know about Samurai?> that explains the origins and ending of the samurai era, the existence of female samurais, and an interview of Japanese members in our team about their extend of samurai knowledge. 

Ninjas, The Role of Spies in Japan

Ninjas are mysterious beings who spread false information to the enemy of the masters they serve and conduct espionage. Ninjas master ninjutsu (忍術), a form of martial arts unique to ninjas, and sometimes fight enemies. Ninjas serve high-ranking officials like military commanders and nobles. It is believed that the role of ninja originated when Prince Shotoku sent them to investigate the inner workings of Silla (ancient Korean kingdom).

Main Duties of a Ninja

Ninjas blend in with the rest of the world while obtaining information or stealing from the enemy. Many people think of a ninja as someone dressed in all black with only their eyes exposed, but it is said that they were disguised as ordinary townsfolk, monks or merchants. When there is no ninja work to be done, apparently they studied/practised military strategy, taijutsu (classic martial arts), and ninjutsu

Only Ninja Can Use Ninjutsu

The techniques required for ninja activities, such as intelligence gathering, stealing and combat, are collectively known as ninjutsu. Ninjas sometimes wield unique weapons called ninja tools (忍具) which they train to use just in case of emergencies. Ninjas mainly use shurikens, scythes, and claws. 

By the way, ninjas also possess Japanese swords called shinobi-gatana (忍刀), though they rarely have opportunity to use them in battle unlike samurai. The shinobi-gatana is said to have been used as footholds for climbing walls and scaling roofs. Unlike the samurai sword, the blade is short and matted to make it inconspicuous at night. Furthermore, to avoid enemy attacks, the ninja also has to acquire physical skills and undergo considerable training. 

The Role of Ninja in Japanese History

There are various schools of ninja, each of which carried out espionage activities for the masters they served. During the Sengoku period especially, when many samurai and bushi dreamt of unifying Japan, many ninjas are said to have worked behind the scenes. For example,

  • The Mori Clan (毛利家) in present-day Hiroshima prefecture became a major power in the Chugoku region thanks to the activities of ninja groups such as Zatoushuu (座頭衆) and the Seki Ichizoku (世鬼一族).

  • The Shogunate, which ruled Japan at one time, had a ninja group called Oniwaban (御庭番). And, warlords everywhere always used ninja to gather information about their enemies. 

  • Nokizaru (軒猿), Saikashu (雑賀衆), and Igashu(伊賀衆) are some of many ninja groups out there. 

It is said that ninjas also acted as mercenaries at times. 

No Ninja in Modern Japan

Another common question, “are there still ninjas in Japan today?” The answer is no. 

As a result of the unification of Japan by the Shogunate, there are no more civil wars in the country, and as a result there is no need for the roles of ninja any longer. In modern Japan, there are no more ninjas, and they are spoken of as historical or fictitious beings. Actual real-life ninja do not have superhuman physical abilities or powerful ninjutsu like in anime and manga. However, many people find them fascinating as mysterious existences that do not appear on the front pages of history. 

Experience Being a Samurai or Ninja in Japan

You may be disappointed that there are no more samurai or ninja in Japan today. But this is actually great news as indications of peaceful times, samurai and ninja are no longer needed when there are no fights and no need to gather information about enemies. If you really want to, there are places where you can experience the atmosphere and dress up in samurai or ninja clothing. 

There are several entertainment facilities in Kyoto, Tokyo, Yamanashi and many other places that offer samurai and ninja experiences. If you are interested in throwing a shuriken, or don samurai armour, then look them up. 

To Close

Samurai and ninja are both existences that are unique to Japan, but they play very different roles. By understanding the difference, you can better enjoy Japanese history and culture. There are no samurai or ninja in Japan any more, but if you are interested to experience what it is like to be a ninja or samurai, or to watch performances, there are places you can visit to enjoy the authentic atmosphere. 

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