User:Snori/Shōninki
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The 'Shōninki' ( Japanese 正 忍 记) is a medieval ninja document from Kishū province.
Written by Masatake Fujibayashi (藤 林正武) (名 取 三十 郎 正 澄), Fujinoissuishi Masatake (藤 一 水 子 正 武) and Sanjuro Masatake (三十 郎 正 武) in 1681 it describes the espionage strategies of the shinobi from Kishū. Together with the Bansenshukai and Ninpiden it is one of three major extant writings of the ninja.[1] An original copy of the Shōninki is in the State Library of Tokyo.
Contents
The Shōninki is divided into Preface (Jo), three scrolls (Shomaki, Chumaki, Gemaki) and an epilogue (Okusho).[2]
In the preface, the author discusses the different types of spies and the principles of espionage.[3]
The first scroll addressed basic skills, such as diguise and concealment, house-breaking and information gathering. The second part deals with defence against enemy spies, human nature, physiognomy, recognizing and eliciting the true intentions of people and laying false trails and cluess. The final scroll is concerned with one's own emotional states as well as those of other people.