What is a Shinobi?

The word Shinobi is very intricate; it was first referenced in the Paleolithic Age (50,000 – 12,000 BC)  it appears in the written record as far back as the late 8th century in poems in the Man'yoshu, which is the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry, created sometime after AD 759 during the Nara period. The underlying implication of Shinobi means to steal away, to hide, and - by extension- to forbear, hence its association with stealth and invisibility. Steal away typically means to leave unnoticed and Forbear means to politely or patiently restrain an impulse from doing something, refrain. These two words are another level of discipline when it comes to Shinobi. They are both two of the same in the meaning stealth, which means cautious and aware.

Shinobi was, and still is, commonly translated as Ninja in the West. We started referring to them as such during post World War II.  Historically, around the 8th century, the word ninja was not in frequent use at the time, until after. A Shinobi who would now be known as Ninja came into their own between the 1300s and 1600s where there was an atmosphere of constant war, and ninja skills were essential. It was also later found out that they were mostly recruited from the lower class to commit espionage through the art of ninjutsu. This form of skill called the ninjutsu technique, or ninpo, is a collection of adaptable survival techniques that allows one to learn to be still and remain pure. It was known that a great Ninjutsu practitioner waits until the most opportune time to strike, wasting no energy or resources, then exploits that opening from all directions yet remains flexible and strong. A Shinobi/Ninja’s greatest asset was his own body and mind, seemingly impervious in any atmosphere.