The Three Great Books of #Ninjutsu

Among existing traditional Ninjutsu books, “#Mansen #Shukai”, “#Shoninki”, and “#Shinobi #Hiden” are called the Three Great Books of Ninjutsu.

Many traditional books were written in the Edo Period, and before that traditions were oral. It is assumed that they were written to pass on traditions and commit them to record. The are traditional texts in which the words “there is an oral tradition” stand out, and this may indicate that oral tradition was of greater importance.

1. Mansen Shukai (also called #Bansen Shukai; "#万川集海" is officially written as "#萬川集海" in Chinese characters), by #Fujibayashi #Yasutake, integrated Iga and Koka Ninjutsu, and a few types of copies are passed down in both Iga and Koka.

2. Shoninki, by #Fujibayashi #Masatake, is a traditional text of the #Kishu-#ryu.

3. Shinobi Hiden, by #Hattori #Hanzo is a traditional text of #Iga and #Koka.