I have only just read this entire set of posts and must say that as a historical recreationist who does a japanese persona during that Kamakura period that the only one who posted anything resembling truth is Takamatsu. Most of you have severly ignorant ideas concerning the uses of the ninja. A samurai would never assassinate anyone. To do so would be seen as dishonorable. Only someone who was trained specifically for such a job could do so without losing honor. And a ninja was not a master fighter as many believe. Ninja's were masters of deception and hiding. They weren't recluses by any means. They were very sociable and amiable people who could move well in nearly any level of society. They hid in plain view by acting the part of the caste around them. The tools they used were normally second rate as they wouldn't have a makers mark on them. As such if something happened none of their equipment could be identified.
I do agree that the running around in black pajamas is a rather stupid idea. If anything they would have had clothing to appear members of the same caste or group as those around them. I'm not saying I'm an expert by any means with this post but I will tell you that the information I'm using has been documented by several scholars that work in the libraries that RobertG talks about. |