Ninja Conference in Rome!
Yesterday I attended a conference dedicated to the figure of the shinobi hosted by the usual Japan Foundation of Rome, dedicated to the development of their imagery from reality to fiction and concluded by a "lesson" in ninjutsu.
The conference has been MORE THAN INTERESTING, and even if I already knew the most things said here, I got to know also further details over this always charming figure of the old times of Japan...
First of all, even if a bit bothering 'cause I had to attend the whole thing standing XD, I was extremely glad to see that the hall of the Institute was filled to a brim :D
There was lots of people sitting on the floor, too-- It reminded me of my days as an University student, LOL!
Anyway, the first part of the conference was dedicated to the development of the figure of the ninja in literature and the media.
The lecturer was Katsuya Yoshimaru-sensei, professor of Literature at Mie University.
Yoshimaru-sensei started his investigation starting from the historical sources about shinobi, and showed us how the "bandits" of Sengoku era turned from the mischievous characters of the XVIII century to the hero of justice of modern times.
Some examples of the typical figures of ninja can be found in some theatrical pieces of the XVIII century, as already mentioned.
One of these oldest examples is "Otogiboko", dated 1666, where a ninja makes his appearance in the story. The character is not a protagonist, and he's portrayed as a shrewd mercenary.
In this period ninja are usually employed as thieves or spies. The most common story plot involves the recovery or stealing of some precious objects.
A good example of this stereotype is the ninja character Kato Danzo.
Later, with characters like Ishikawa Goemon, thieves or delinquent trying to undermine the social balance by plotting against a daimyo, a ruler, or even take their places with ninjutsu.
An interesting example of this kind of story can be found in the series "Ehon Taiko-ki", released in the early Edo period.
During the Edo period started some kind of revolution in the characters.
The popular "shinobi shozoku" made its appearance, as did the idea of the ninja as a sort of "wizard", or that of someone with superhuman abilities and skills.
Epitome of this new wave of ninjas are characters like Nikki Danjo, who had the ability to transform into animals (expecially mice) to infiltrate places, or Tenjiku Tokubei, who had the power to evoke supernatural creatures (usually a giant toad).
It was probably an attempt to distract people from politics and the like, offering them some nice, naive entertainment of sort.
Things changed completely in modern times, when the book series "Tatsukawa" released the novel "Sarutobi Sasuke" in 1914.
This character was already known because he made an appearance in the "Enshoku Teihei Rakuki" of the XVIII century, some kind of fictional war chronicle related to the Siege of Osaka; here he appeared as a retainer of daimyo Sanada Yukimura.
The book of the Tatsukawa's, though, is the first very example of the fictional development of this character into a hero, a faithful retainer and, most importantly, a samurai.
In the book, in fact, he's always referred as "master of ninjutsu", but not as a "shinobi".
This is probably because the Tatsukawa series had mostly samurai figures as its protagonists... Turning the "historical" Sasuke into a samurai was probably a way to legittimate his presence in the collection, but still, the development from "delinquents" to "hero" is interesting, and itself a proof of the social and historical modifications that go through literature.
The second part of the conference was hosted by Kawakami Jinichi-sensei, a practitioner of ninjutsu and the director of the Iga Ninja Museum.
This was a sort of historical introduction to the figure of the shinobi, but also a practical demonstration of ninjutsu, as a way to control one's very own body.
Kawakami-sensei traced the traditional heritage of the shinobi to the spiritual experience of the yamabushi, ascetics living in the mountains to develop their connection nature and develop their physical awareness.
All the spiritual involment was extremely interesting.
After this first introduction, we were "initiated" to the basics of ninjutsu practice.
Kawakami-sensei was gracious and patient enough to explain us the "secrets" of correct breathing, how to improve one's balance, and how to "walk like a ninja".
It was shocking to see him disarticulate his shoulders XD and when he told us that he could make his weenie and family jewels "draw" into his pelvis we believed him even without seeing it x'DD --All of it just to explain to us what kind of control one can acquire over their body with practice and willpower.
Mind and body are strictly intertwined in the way of the ninja, as are the "sword" and "soul" that compose the kanji for "shinobi", that more that "cruelty" or coldness in front of pain, are the synthesis of the concept of "charity", a selfless education keen on living in harmony with our similars...
Definitely a charming and refreshing event :3 !
Originally posted at http://daeva-neesan.dreamwidth.org/564597.html
If you want, please comment there :3
The conference has been MORE THAN INTERESTING, and even if I already knew the most things said here, I got to know also further details over this always charming figure of the old times of Japan...
First of all, even if a bit bothering 'cause I had to attend the whole thing standing XD, I was extremely glad to see that the hall of the Institute was filled to a brim :D
There was lots of people sitting on the floor, too-- It reminded me of my days as an University student, LOL!
Anyway, the first part of the conference was dedicated to the development of the figure of the ninja in literature and the media.
The lecturer was Katsuya Yoshimaru-sensei, professor of Literature at Mie University.
Yoshimaru-sensei started his investigation starting from the historical sources about shinobi, and showed us how the "bandits" of Sengoku era turned from the mischievous characters of the XVIII century to the hero of justice of modern times.
Some examples of the typical figures of ninja can be found in some theatrical pieces of the XVIII century, as already mentioned.
One of these oldest examples is "Otogiboko", dated 1666, where a ninja makes his appearance in the story. The character is not a protagonist, and he's portrayed as a shrewd mercenary.
In this period ninja are usually employed as thieves or spies. The most common story plot involves the recovery or stealing of some precious objects.
A good example of this stereotype is the ninja character Kato Danzo.
Later, with characters like Ishikawa Goemon, thieves or delinquent trying to undermine the social balance by plotting against a daimyo, a ruler, or even take their places with ninjutsu.
An interesting example of this kind of story can be found in the series "Ehon Taiko-ki", released in the early Edo period.
During the Edo period started some kind of revolution in the characters.
The popular "shinobi shozoku" made its appearance, as did the idea of the ninja as a sort of "wizard", or that of someone with superhuman abilities and skills.
Epitome of this new wave of ninjas are characters like Nikki Danjo, who had the ability to transform into animals (expecially mice) to infiltrate places, or Tenjiku Tokubei, who had the power to evoke supernatural creatures (usually a giant toad).
It was probably an attempt to distract people from politics and the like, offering them some nice, naive entertainment of sort.
Things changed completely in modern times, when the book series "Tatsukawa" released the novel "Sarutobi Sasuke" in 1914.
This character was already known because he made an appearance in the "Enshoku Teihei Rakuki" of the XVIII century, some kind of fictional war chronicle related to the Siege of Osaka; here he appeared as a retainer of daimyo Sanada Yukimura.
The book of the Tatsukawa's, though, is the first very example of the fictional development of this character into a hero, a faithful retainer and, most importantly, a samurai.
In the book, in fact, he's always referred as "master of ninjutsu", but not as a "shinobi".
This is probably because the Tatsukawa series had mostly samurai figures as its protagonists... Turning the "historical" Sasuke into a samurai was probably a way to legittimate his presence in the collection, but still, the development from "delinquents" to "hero" is interesting, and itself a proof of the social and historical modifications that go through literature.
The second part of the conference was hosted by Kawakami Jinichi-sensei, a practitioner of ninjutsu and the director of the Iga Ninja Museum.
This was a sort of historical introduction to the figure of the shinobi, but also a practical demonstration of ninjutsu, as a way to control one's very own body.
Kawakami-sensei traced the traditional heritage of the shinobi to the spiritual experience of the yamabushi, ascetics living in the mountains to develop their connection nature and develop their physical awareness.
All the spiritual involment was extremely interesting.
After this first introduction, we were "initiated" to the basics of ninjutsu practice.
Kawakami-sensei was gracious and patient enough to explain us the "secrets" of correct breathing, how to improve one's balance, and how to "walk like a ninja".
It was shocking to see him disarticulate his shoulders XD and when he told us that he could make his weenie and family jewels "draw" into his pelvis we believed him even without seeing it x'DD --All of it just to explain to us what kind of control one can acquire over their body with practice and willpower.
Mind and body are strictly intertwined in the way of the ninja, as are the "sword" and "soul" that compose the kanji for "shinobi", that more that "cruelty" or coldness in front of pain, are the synthesis of the concept of "charity", a selfless education keen on living in harmony with our similars...
Definitely a charming and refreshing event :3 !
Originally posted at http://daeva-neesan.dreamwidth.org/564597.html
If you want, please comment there :3