Abstract
This paper examines the definitions, precepts, and status of Shinobi as expressed in Yamaga Sogo’s Bukyō Zensho through the lens of several commentaries. According to Kubota Sugane’s Bukyō Zensho Seikai, the Shinobi assumed the role of a warrior who could penetrate into castles and camps where visibility was difficult. For ninja, the selection of individuals was prioritized over physical skills, and even if they served with dedication, they were viewed with caution if they were from enemy territory. On the other hand, the Shinobi valued loyal servants, and their precepts shared some similarities with the theory of bushido.
However, Shinobi were required to keep their war merits secret, and this differs from the view of honor held by soldiers who propagated their military merits. Although Shinobi were considered to be of a lower rank in military history books, Tsugaru Masakata’s Bukyō Zensho Shosetsu Hyōron Kadenhishō locates them among the highest ranks of spies as expressed in the Yōkan section of Soko’s text. In contrast to the seemingly contradictory position of “spies,” Masakata argued that any “samurai” could be spies if they demonstrated superior strategy. Shinobi were not mere employees, but “warriors” with a sense of nobility, and their utmost efforts as strategists were sometimes regarded as ideal.
