Mind Manipulation. Dr. Haha Lung
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by one of his own men, the Daimyo Akechi. Some say Akechi, a devout Buddhist, had simply had enough of Nobunago’s persecution of peaceful Buddhists. Others whispered that the daimyo had fallen under the spell of ninja mind-masters.
Following the death of Nobunago, his general Hideyoshi Toyotomi seized power.
By 1590, Toyotomi, a commoner, had succeeded where all the emperors, shoguns, and daimyo before him hadn’t, uniting the whole of Japan under his banner. Toyotomi began his rise to power as a juvenile henchman for a group of ruthless “ninja” highwaymen. From there, he manipulated his way into Nobunago’s confidence; first as a valuable spy, then as an accomplished strategist, and eventually co-commander of Nobunago’s forces.
Not surprisingly, the whispers were that “the ninja” Toyotomi had engineered Nobunago’s death.
How ironic that Toyotomi, a man who owed his rise to ultimate power to ninja mind-manipulation tactics and techniques, would be the same man who would spell the beginning of the end of the great ninja clans.
Just as warring between rival samurai clans in the 14th century helped foster the development of ninjutsu, conversely Toyotomi’s unification of Japan—and the resultant end to internecine fighting between lesser samurai lords—heralded the decline of overt ninja rebellion.
The emergence of a strong central government authority that local daimyo could call on for assistance against defiant clans helped spur the development of more covert methods of ninja craft, particularly in areas of mind manipulation.
As government, military, and law-enforcement became more centralized, most of the smaller, purely criminal “ninja” gangs dispersed. Others however remained defiant, forming larger criminal leagues and helping foster the emergence of the yakuza, Japan’s version of the Mafia.
Ironically, still other ninja became policemen or became operatives for the centralized military’s intelligence network. These converted operatives lent their ninja expertise (especially mind-manipulation techniques) to the creation of the Japanese military’s feared Kenpeitai (Thought Control Bureau) and to the national Tokko (Thought Police). Established in 1911 to suppress left-wing movements in Japan, the Tokko’s power continued to expand up through World War II when it specialized in enforcing thought-control policies of the pre-World War II militarist regime.
In the 17th century, the proper Tokugawa regime that succeeded Toyotomi’s reign made it a capital offense to even say the word “ninja” since merely acknowledging the existence of such rogues challenged the very nature of rigid Japanese social structure. In their enemies’ eyes, ninja had no honor because they used every manner of skullduggery to accomplish their goals. Where samurai fought face-to-face, adhering to the strict ideal of bushido chivalry, ninja were bound by no such rules of engagement, preferring instead to strike from behind or from afar.
What frightened proper Japanese society in general, and pretentious samurai in particular, was that ninja did not stop at unconventional physical warfare. Ninja also used psychological attacks, targeting their enemy where that enemy was most vulnerable and least able to defend themselves—through their secret lusts, inner fears, and superstitions.
More insidious still, you never knew when a wily ninja mind manipulator might succeed in “overshadowing” your brother, your wife, even your priest—any one of whom could slip a dirk into your back or poison into your cup while under the control of an accomplished ninja mind-wizard!
Progressing through the nine training halls of ninjutsu craft, students are quick to learn that for every one physical way to attack an enemy, there are 10 ways to attack his mind.
The Nine Training Halls
Each of the traditional Nine Halls of Ninjutsu contains a distinct field of training. While complete in and of themselves, by necessity each training hall compliments the other eight.
Ninja students are first given an overall course of training to familiarize them with all nine training halls. Students showing aptitude in a particular hall of study are then encouraged to specialize in that hall. In general, this nine halls regimen progresses from purely physical skills toward more mental skills, and culminates in the development of mental strategies and tactics designed to defeat a ninja’s enemies without the danger of physical confrontation.
Even when the course of study appears to be purely physical in nature however, underlying the physical lesson is a valuable psychological principle to be mastered.
A brief overview of the nine halls:
Unarmed Combat
Teaches the student various systems of unarmed martial arts. Yet even this purely physical level of training contains a vital mental component. That is, hall instructors at this level are careful to note any psychological impediments or flaws in temperament in their students that might interfere with that student’s mastery of physical skills.
Combat with Wooden Weapons
Allows the ninja student to augment his unarmed combat skills with natural wooden weapons provided by his environment, such as the bo-staff, jo-fighting sticks, or nunchaku.
Combat with Bladed Weapons
Familiarizes the student with a wide variety of bladed weapons, such as swords, knives, kama-sickles, and shuriken throwing stars.
Combat with Flexible Weapons
Introduces students to weapons such as chains, ropes, and even the innocuous scarf. Psychologically, at this level students learn that most valuable of lessons: Flexible weapons and tactics often succeed where more rigid tactics fail.
Specialized Combat Training
Requires the student to integrate the weapons and tactics learned in the four preceding halls with the use of specially-crafted shinobi devices and tactics. Note: Most ninjutsu schools draw a distinction between the first five halls, viewed as primarily physical in nature, and the following four, which emphasize mental acuity.
The Art of Disguise
Requires a study of physical make-up (wigs, prosthetics, dress, etc.) as well as other skills designed to allow the ninja to insert themselves into various roles. More than any other, this hall of study demands that students understand the psychology of others (such as their mind-set and cultural and religious traditions) in order to successfully perfect their role-playing.
The Art of Espionage
This hall first concerns itself with gathering intelligence and insight into the movements and motivation of foes. Ninja then use this information to devise a strategy for removing any obstacles blocking the ninja’s objectives.
The traditional ninja way of thinking is that human obstacles can be overcome either through education or assassination. Despite their bloodthirsty reputation, shinobi-ninja always preferred “educating” an enemy (through the use of mental manipulation) rather than having to resort to physical methods of removing that enemy.
The Art of Escape and Evasion
Teaches the student taisavaki avoidance techniques ranging from physical skills (camouflage, locksmithing, escapology, etc.), to mind-manipulation ploys designed to help the ninja escape detection by clouding an enemy’s mind.
The Art of Mysticism
Teaches students a myriad of concentration and mediation techniques designed to focus and strengthen the student’s mind.
Advanced students are then taught techniques of mind manipulation (for example, evoking a foe’s emotions, the use of subliminal suggestion, or hypnotism) designed to give ninja an edge against foes.
Attacking an enemy’s mind is known as saimen-jutsu (storming the mind-gate. )
STORMING THE MIND-GATE
“Your greatest weapon is in your enemy’s mind.”
—Buddha
Ninja compared attacking another’s mind to invading an enemy fortress, literally overwhelming their