Hoi,

---Stanley Teriaca  wrote:

I do have to put in my two cents in. 1) Jubie is considered both a
samuria and a ninja, because he *was*

I beg to disagree. Jubie is not a samurai. he is a Bushi/Ninja (taken

>from AD&D: Oriental Adventure manual) or a plain Ronin trained in the

art of Ninjitsu. And Ninjitsu is a form of martial art that time.
Practiced by scouts and advance unit. Being a ninja automatically
invalidates his status as a samurai, even if he was, which he was'nt
personal honor would force him to choose between being true samurai >or 

to become a Ronin. 

After further reflection, I would go with the idea that Jubei is a 
Ronin, although Dukuwan often refered to Jubei as a ninja in the anime.  
Althought I also don't think Jubei cares entirely too much on what 
"title" he is given.

Why do you think all of the ninja's ware face mask, aside so that >they 

can be seen in the dark? 

Ok, whatever...  The most emportant reason for wearing a mask is that no 
one knows your face.  This lets you do your "night" job and still allow 
you to roam free during the day. 

And i think at the time period(Tokugawa, Late) of Ninja Scroll, the
"Ninja" was more of a scout/recon unit than an assassin for a Daimiyo
to have. It became more focused for the later years in the war that
the scouts become assassins for their lord because their the only >ones 

that _can_ get close enough to actually _kill_ them. So there, >the 
Ninja was born. If memory serves me right they were'nt actually >called 
"Ninja's" its only the westerners that called them that.

They wore many titles... Ninja is just one of them.

The primary purpose of the ninja was recon.  They also were assigned the 
task of eliminating all watch guards and sentries.  If there was to be a 
battle, it was the samurai that fought it.  You cant gain any honor for 
your house if you win a battle, but no one knows about it.

Back to Ninja Scroll though... While it remains one of my top two 
favorite animes I have to say there are some problems with it.  The Koga 
Clan would have a few ninja and lots more samurai.  The team sent to 
investigate the poisioned village, would have been ninja.  Move quickly 
and silently, observe without being seen and report back.  Illimanate 
any minor threat that might be present.  However, at the end of the 
anime when the Koga sent their army to the village with the gold ship, 
those would have been samurai.  Ready to fight and die for the honor of 
their lord and their own.

All of these different things make up what was happening back in the 
1600s, things none of us (most likely) have first hand knowledge.  You 
can read history and encyclopedia books, but just remember... Most of 
all that is written about history and war was done buy the guys who came 
out ahead.

That being the fact I look forward to reading fan ficks that deal with 
swordplay and ninjas and samurai.  I will take them at face value and 
make my decisions on the quality of the writing and not the technalities 
of the battle.  As it is I that sort of started this whole thread with 
my C&C of the original story, I would like to remind the author that I 
did enjoy reading it and I look forward to anything else that might be 
coming this way.

OR I could be all wrong.

Diddo

Motoko Chan
-Now where the hell is the URL to that Jap-Eng dictionary site!!  
ps: aside from my interpretation of was Jubei really is, all of these
are facts. Taken from an encylopedia in our school library.  

***    Knife Sharpens on Stone... Man Sharpens on Man     ***
***    - Tao                                              ***

Jayden Stormwalker


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