The Ninja Handbook

HandbookOFD AR K LORDSSith Academy Training ManualSITH ACADEMY PUBLICATIONSImperius & Ravenus“To dare to climb Mt. Imperius”~Two Ninjas~iiPage 3FOREWARDThis book is a training manual for the shadow warriors of ourEmpire. It is written for Acolytes of our Black Brotherhood whochoose to specialize in the dark arts of espionage, sabotage,assassination, stealth, scouting and covert operations of everykind.Make no mistake: this is a dangerous book. The skills and ideasdescribed herein are based on the hard-won knowledge of realshadow warriors who operated for centuries in harsh conditions,where the price of failure was often terrible death. Their veryname—Ninja—meant those who lived with their hearts under ablade; those who walked a path of danger and faced death as away of life.Such dangerous knowledge is not meant for “armchair ninjas”who enjoy stories about “Leagues of Shadows” but have nointention of putting any of it into practice. No! This book is forthose with the courage and will to act, to train and to transformthemselves into lethal shadow-beings. Our Empire will need anarmy of such men of action to take our visions from the realm ofimagination into the realm of material reality.With the publication of this book, we are putting out a call and achallenge to those who wish to become the most fearedoperatives of our new Imperial order: the dark knights we callBlack Ninjas. So read on, and discover if this is to be yourdestiny. In the words of a haiku I wrote the other day:Ninja clans unknownIn shadows training, creepingAre you one of us?~Dred Nightstalker; Grandmaster of the Black Dragon School~Black Temple-AnnexImperial Year 6, Month 6 (February, 2017)iiiPage 4TABLE OF CONTENTSBOOK ONE: BROTHERHOOD.....................7The Way of the Black Ninja..........................................8Black Ninja Brotherhood.............................................17Ninja Ideology.............................................................32BOOK TWO: TRAINING......................43Ninja Body..................................................................44Ninja Mind...................................................................53Ninja Combat..............................................................66BOOK THREE: OPERATIONS...................73Ninja Strategy & Tactics.............................................74Shadow Warfare.........................................................81Ninja Missions..........................................................100Ninja Equipment.......................................................106BOOK FOUR: IMAGINATION.................. 115Ninja Mysticism.........................................................116Ninja Magick.............................................................123Ninja Visions.............................................................136ivPage 5INTRODUCTIONTHE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOKThis book is a guide to living in the way of the Black Ninja, asenvisioned and taught by the Dark Lords. It is an outline of theskills and philosophy we teach to Acolytes who come to usseeking empowerment on the path of the shadow warrior. Thisbook may be used by solitary seekers, a group of like-mindedpeople who wish to form a Clan, or by those who are beingtrained directly by members of the Black Ninja Brotherhood. Itmay also be read simply for knowledge and enjoyment, if that isall you seek.Some may try to dismiss Ninjas as a fantasy from the movies andcomic books, but this ignores the fact that the Ninja are ahistorical reality—real shadow warriors who existed for centuries,and left us with scrolls, achievements and artifacts attesting totheir power. Our goal here is to revive the authentic dark Ninjaspirit for the modern world, taking inspiration from their fictionaldepictions, but never forgetting that the mystique and magick ofthe Ninja was a real and powerful thing, and will continue to be soas long as its essence is preserved.In this book we present a new take on the Ninja, incorporatingsome of the language, training, ideology and symbolism that wehave developed on our own paths of inspiration as Dark Lords.Historical purists may be put off by some of these innovations, butour goal here is not to recreate ancient history. We believe thatthe real, sinister Ninja can live again, in modern forms and newenvironments, and this book is our vision of this revival. As DarkLords, we are formless Black Magicians who merge fantasy andreality, imagination and action, the past and the future to bringabout our new black magickal order. We believe the Black Ninjawill have an important role to play in this new order—an orderwhich we imagine into existence with every new book we publish.With this book, another gateway has been opened and a newWay lies before you; do you dare to walk through it into the darkand dangerous world of the Black Ninja?v
Page 6HOW TO USE THIS BOOKThe four books contained in this volume are designed to give theAcolyte the knowledge they need to earn the title of Black Ninja inthe Dark Lords' Order. It may also be read profitably by anyonewith an interest in Ninja training, operations, skills, mysticism,mindset and ideology, or who are simply looking to feed theirimaginations.Book One: Brotherhood provides information about the BlackNinja organization and ideology, and their relation to the DarkLords' Empire.Book Two: Training is an introduction to our methods of trainingthe mind, body and combat skills of a Black Ninja.Book Three: Operations discusses the strategy, tactics,technologies and types of missions undertaken by the BlackNinjas.Book Four: Imagination is an introduction to the mystical beliefs,magickal practices and imaginative visions of the Black Ninjas.Notes: (found throughout the book)A section for handwritten training entires, e.g. scroll-writing, symbolpaintings,and correspondencewith 'Masters' of our Brotherhood.viPage 7BOOK ONEBROTHERHOODPainting the first “Black Dragon School” of Seattle, USA'White Wolf & Black-D', 'Dred Nightstalker & Commander Amon Khan'—at work!Hail the Black Dragons!“Guardians of our Black Temples & Agents of the Empire!”Special thanks to all Black Ninjas and Shadow Warriors of the Borgazul:“from coils of 'madness' shall we call victory over the mundane and inject our black poison; wewill!” “Infect so' the Black Ninja Spirit' into the boys and men of many -we can!”Chasing the Dragon in IY6:~Dred Nightstalker, Commander Amon Khan~viiPage 8THE WAY OF THE BLACKNINJA“Everything is permitted; nothing is impossible.” —Motto of theBlack Ninja BrotherhoodBLACK NINJUTSU AT A GLANCETo make clear at the outset the difference between our way ofBlack Ninjutsu and other so-called “Ninjutsu” systems beingoffered today, here are two bullet-point lists:The Black Ninja are not primarily interested in:◆ becoming martial arts champions or “black belts”◆ propagating new martial arts systems to the world◆ re-creating the weapons and costumes of the medievalNinja◆ becoming health & fitness gurus◆ promoting "positive spiritual growth” or “progress”◆ defending the institutions of non-Ninja society◆ learning systems of “self-defense” and non-violentconflict resolution◆ participating in group “positive thinking” or New Agetherapy sessions◆ becoming productive, law-abiding members of non-Ninjasociety◆ making Ninpo a new religion for the masses◆ becoming “enlightened” through meditation◆ becoming celebrities or a pop culture phenomenonThe Black Ninja are primarily interested in:8
Page 9The Ninja Handbook◆ training for dangerous, life-threatening situations◆ becoming highly skilled shadow warriors◆ gathering intelligence for their Clan◆ punishing anyone their Clan wants punished◆ obtaining anything their Clan wants obtained◆ surviving in any environment◆ moving undetected through any environment◆ operating in darkness◆ infiltrating any territory◆ studying shadow warfare strategy and tactics◆ practicing forms of mysticism and magick that enhancetheir power◆ preserving their Clan lineages and knowledge◆ attending and defending Black Temples◆ gathering invisible, formless powerUnderstand the above lists well. Know the difference between theBlack Ninja—sinister shadow warrior—and the White Ninja—“New Agey” martial arts enthusiast—and decide which path isfor you. If the answer is the latter, put this book down, read nofurther and forget about these dark fantasies of twisted minds.Perhaps there is a group of black karate gi-wearing “Ninjutsu”enthusiasts meeting at the local martial arts center that will bemore to your liking!ELEMENTS OF THE WAYTHREE DIMENSIONS OF NINJUTSUNinjutsu is a total way of life that encompasses all threedimensions or realms of human experience: physical, intellectualand spiritual. These realms correspond to the three-tieredhierarchy of Ninja Clans—Agents, Commanders and Lord—usedby both the historical Ninja and our Black Ninja Brotherhood.They also correspond to the operational, strategic and spiritualdimensions of Ninjutsu described below:9
Page 10The Way of the Black Ninja◆ Operational: Development of the strength, endurance,discipline and skills needed to complete Ninja missions.The primary focus of Agents.◆ Strategic: Development of the tactical and strategicknowledge necessary to plan and manage successfulNinja missions. The primary focus of Commanders.◆ Spiritual: Development of the philosophical and mysticalunderstanding needed to successfully guide and preservethe Ninja Clan. The primary focus of Lords.One should not imagine that the path of the Ninja is only for thosewho want to become athletic night warriors and spies. OurBrotherhood also needs exceptional strategic thinkers andspiritual leaders in its ranks, or it is no more effective than a bodywithout a mind or spirit.NINJUTSU VS. BUSHIDOIn legend and fiction, Ninjas are portrayed as the mortal enemiesof the Samurai; their Way of Ninjutsu is the antithesis of theSamurai's Way of Bushido. This wasn't always true historically,but it serves to make an important distinction. Bushido, with itshonor codes, rigid conventions and class-based loyalties, is verymuch opposed to the spirit of the Black Ninja. We do not denythat there is power in Bushido—the Samurai's dominance ofJapan for seven hundred years under the Shoguns is a testamentto the power of their creed. But we follow a greater Way: a DarkTao that cannot be contained by limiting concepts like “honor”,“class” and “tradition”. In nature such things do not exist; theuniverse does not care about them, and life always finds a way todefeat them.The Black Ninja, being close students of nature, embrace itsgreater wisdom and do not become bound up in artificial, humanconstructedsystems such as Bushido. This applies to any suchsystem,including modern Westernsystems of laws, governmentsandreligious commandments. Wesee them as arbitraryconstructs,to be adopted to when necessary,but never spirituallysubmittedto. The Black Ninja creed of “Everything is permitted;nothingis impossible” can never be compatible with the limitingsystemsof any other religion, philosophy or way of life!As disciples of this unfettered Way, the Black Ninja can be both10Page 11The Ninja Handbookthe greatest threat to orthodox authorities and their most powerfulservants. For when something must be done to preserve aregime that requires fearlessness, ruthlessness and cunning, butwhich violates their own orthodox codes and laws, it is to our kindthat they will turn.Consider war: no order can survive that does not win wars, yetevery war requires shadow warriors who can operate in chaosand moral darkness without losing their nerve. Every war requiresmen of skill, steel will and deception; assassins, saboteurs, spiesand mercenaries—Black Ninjas, in other words. We saw this firstin feudal Japan: some warlords, impressed by the skills of theNinja, chose to employ them against their Samurai rivals andwere able to win great victories. This led other warlords torespond in kind, until the supposedly Bushido-bound Samuraifound themselves allied with the despised Ninja, employing their“dishonorable” skills because they got results.We see this today also, when the armies of the modern West,armed with vast arsenals of unprecedented destructive powerand technological sophistication, can't seem to win wars againstadversaries armed with simple weapons and few resources. Thereason for this is again the limitations of Samurai ways of warfare.The Western armies are crippled by their own ideologies of“human rights”, “just wars”, “rules of engagement” and the like.They simply lack the will and the ruthlessness to do what must bedone to win. And their enemies, such as the Ninja-like jihadists ofAfghanistan and the Levant, take full advantage of this weaknessby using tactics such as “human shields”, “taqiyya” deception,targeting civilians and suicide bombings, that the orthodoxpowers have difficulty countering. In desperation, the Westernarmies turn to assassination squads, foreign governments andmercenary fighters who are not so “honorable” in theirmethodology, and are not bound by the codes of conventionalwarriors. Again, we see Ninja-style warfare succeeding where theSamurai-like warriors fail, demonstrating the timeless power ofour Way.THE DOUBLE LIFEA Black Ninja will typically lead a double life: a mundane,“daytime” life of work, family and community activities, and amore sinister, “nighttime” life of Clan-related activities. The Ninja'smundane life should appear normal on the surface, so as to not11Page 12The Way of the Black Ninjaarouse suspicion, and to provide good cover for his less reputableactivities. The Ninja's mundane occupation could be anything atall, though it will usually involve Ninja skills in some way. Ideally,the occupation should give the Ninja access to resources andinformation that will be useful in his Clan activities; for example,access to police databases if he is a police officer, access tonational security intelligence if he works in counter-terrorism,access to company secrets if he works in corporate security,ability to open locks if he is a locksmith, personal information if heis a barber, etc.GUIDELINES FOR NINJA BEHAVIORHere are some basic guidelines for living the Black Ninja Way:◆ Avoid lying or being two-faced. This way, when you do lie,you will be more convincing.◆ Stay in contact with your Clan. Never “go rogue”. A BlackNinja without a Clan is a lost and ineffective Ninja.◆ Create a network of contacts. Do not live like a hermit. ABlack Ninja has informants and allies wherever he goes.◆ Travel frequently. This way, leaving for missions will notbe unusual, you will make new contacts, and you willgather information about other regions.◆ Travel alone, and don't let others know that you areleaving or returning.◆ Be prepared to adopt disguises on your travels andestablish new identities.◆ Develop skill with medicines and drugs. This will serveyou well on missions and in life in general.YO-NIN VS. IN-NIN OPERATIONSIn the classic Ninjutsu manual the Bansenshukai, authorFujibayashi Yasutake divides Ninja operations into two types: YoNinandIn-Nin.Thisis an important distinction that the Ninjutsustudentmust understand from the outset.In Japanese, “nin” means “stealing in” or “infiltration” (hence “Ninja”is “one who steals in”). “In” and “Yo”refer to the two poles of“darkness”and “light”—“In-Yo”is the same as “Yin-Yang”in12Page 13The Ninja HandbookChinese: “Yo” phenomena are of the light, masculine, aggressive,“hot” and passionate; “In” phenomenona are of the darkness,feminine, passive, “cold” and calculating.Stereotypically, the Samurai were strongly “Yo” warriors, whilethe Ninja were strongly “In”. In reality, the Ninja conducted both“Yo” and “In” operations, depending on their mission.◆ Yo-Nin: Infiltration in plain view, moving into enemyterritory using a disguise or a cover identity. Anundercover spy mission.◆ In-Nin: Infiltration out of view, hiding in shadows, behindobjects, in the trees, under cover of darkness. A “specialforces” or “assassin”-type mission.Black Ninjas tend to favor in-nin covert infiltrations, but are alwaysflexible in their approach. In some situations the clever BlackNinja simply walks into the enemy camp posing as an ally asdoes his dark deed; in other situations he must use classic blacksuitedstealth to scale the enemy's walls and take what he needs.Sometimeshe will infiltrate an area with in-nin stealth then switchtoa yo-nin disguise, or vice versa. Some individuals willspecializein one method over the other,but both types must bemastered,and both are taught in our Black Ninjutsu school.KOCHOJUTSUThe Ninja believe that one man of skill, daring and genius candefeat hundreds of common soldiers. They achieve this bycarefully studying their enemies, finding their weak points andattacking them there. They look for critical points where just theright small action can cause a cascading chain of effects that willvastly multiply their attack. For example, igniting a firebomb in justthe right spot could burn down an entire enemy building. Thismethodology has been called kochojutsu, which means “the art ofthe butterfly”, after the so-called “Butterfly Effect” of modernChaos Theory, where a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil cancause a hurricane in Florida. Kochojutsu is based on theunderstanding that the world is highly nonlinear, and the BlackNinja's art is to exploit those nonlinearities. Kochojutsu attacksare often called “asymmetrical warfare” or “terrorism” by mundanemodern forces. Mastering the black science of kochojutsu is vitalto the Black Ninja if we are to establish our Empire. For like the13Page 14The Way of the Black Ninjahistorical Ninja, we are small in number—outnumberedthousands-to-one by the armies of our enemies—yet we aim todefeat them. We describe a few kochojutsu methods in theOperations section of this book.KYOJITSUNinjas also practice kyojitsu: the art of deception. The idea ofkyojitsu is to control your opponent’s perceptions, to createillusions that induce him to act in predictable ways. This allowsyou to anticipate their responses and counter them. Kyojitsumight be as simple as a feint in hand-to-hand fighting, todiversionary sounds or fires during an infiltration, to feint troopmaneuvers to draw away enemy forces during a war. BlackNinjas always heed the wisdom of Sun-Tzu, who said: “all warfareis based on deception”.Kyojitsu is useful in another way for the Black Ninja: it can give usa terrifying reputation, as ruthless, superhuman warriors capableof doing the impossible. In feudal Japan, the Ninja were said tobe descended from demons and possessed of magickal powerssuch as invisibility and mastery of fire. The Ninja exploited thesepeasant superstitions to magnify their power. Even today, we findpeople claiming to be authentic Ninja masters, leading globalcults with tens of thousands of members and teaching “secretNinja powers”, despite having no proof that they are anything butclever frauds. Black Ninjas can learn much from such masters ofdeception!MINIMALISMA Black Ninja should maintain a simple, minimalist lifestyle. Thefewer possessions and attachments you have, the easier it will befor you to move to a new location or adopt a new identity for amission. Your Ninja life will bring an element of danger andunpredictability, so you cannot afford to be weighted down by thesorts of domestic comforts and responsibilities that enslave thenon-Ninja. Nor do you want to give over your sovereignty tooutsiders, in the form of debts, military service, educationalprograms, etc., unless you have a clear purpose for doing so thatwill benefit yourself and your Clan.Minimalism does not mean that you cannot have a family, house,cars, etc.—those things can be necessary for maintaining yourmundane life outside the Clan. But it means that inwardly, you14Page 15The Ninja Handbookshould not become overly attached to these things, and shouldview them only as useful tools, not the central purpose of yourexistence. A Black Ninja is a dark monk and a warrior, passingthrough this world but not imprisoned by its material playthings.Remind yourself of this often.THE SHADOW WARRIOR'S JOURNEYThere is an ancient tradition that when a warrior has completedhis training at a Ryu (martial school), he must journey out into thelarger world to test his skills and seek adventure. In Japanese,this “Warrior's Journey” is called Musha Shugyō; in medievalEurope it was known as “Knight Errantry”; in our Black Tongue, itis called Shazath-Kirkūd.While the Warrior's Journey was primarily a tradition of theSamurai and other non-allied Orders, it can be just as powerfulfor the Black Ninja on the path of shadows. In our case, the BlackRyu graduate is expected to go out into the world, seekingadventures, adversaries and endarkening work that calls for hisspecial skills. For example, the Black Ninja might seek work as amercenary or assassin, a corporate spy, private investigator,bounty hunter, bodyguard or political operative. Or perhaps theNinja will simply wander for a time, seeking places of power thatinspire him and people of power to learn from and challenge. Theexperience of leaving your familiar surroundings and supportnetwork will force you to become a more resourceful, adaptable,powerful being, which is the purpose of our path.During your Warrior's Journey, you should learn to commandothers and make them your Black Agents. Learn to sense otherswith strong, black ki (inner power) and recruit them to your Clan.Learn to survive in all environments and become adept at socialmanipulation. Find nexuses of power where new Black Ryus andClans should be established. Seek out the houses and schools ofother Black Ninjas, and recognize their secret signs.After many months or years of such adventuring, you shouldreturn to your Ryu and dojo, a more powerful and resourcefulbeing and a greater asset to your Clan. By your work andadventures abroad, you will have expanded your Clan's tentaclesfurther into the world, and planted seeds that may blossom intodark fruit that will nourish yourself and the Ninja Brotherhood foryears or centuries to come.15Page 16The Way of the Black NinjaSIX QUALIFICATIONS OF A NINJAIn the Bansenshukai, Fujibayashi identifies six qualifications thatevery Ninja must have to be worthy of employment:◆ strong, healthy body◆ loyalty (to other members of the Clan)◆ courage◆ strategy (understanding of Ninjutsu strategy & tactics)◆ achievement (previous mission successes)◆ fidelity (to the ways and doctrine of the Clan)These six qualifications apply just as well to the Black Ninja; theyare the basic checklist of requirements for those who seekadmission to and continued membership in our Brotherhood.Notes:16Page 17BLACK NINJABROTHERHOODThe Black Ninja is not a solitary operator, but a member of aBrotherhood of fellow shadow warriors. Let us now discuss thenature of this Brotherhood in more detail.A NEW VISIONOur vision is of a worldwide Black Ninja Brotherhood, which takesNinjutsu far beyond the realm of sporting martial arts or historicalre-enactment to its true essence: a total way of life and spiritualpath for shadow warriors. The Brotherhood we envision will haveclans, dojos and temples in discreet locations across the globe,where those who feel called and have the will may go to learn thesinister ways of our kind.Let us be clear up front that we do not claim to belong to anyancient lineage of Ninjas or to have personal connections to anyauthentic Ninja Grandmasters (if any still exist). Our connection tothe Ninja tradition is purely spiritual; we claim only to be deeplyinspired by the Ninja as a timeless role model for existence in achaotic world, and to be following their example by living asshadow warrior-monks in the modern age. Perhaps this willdisqualify us in the minds of purists who only respect teachingshanded down by generations of Grandmasters within a familylineage and authenticated in ancient scrolls. To such people wesay: study our vision, see if it has power and stays true to theoriginal Ninja spirit. The essence of Ninjutsu, we believe, isformlessness and adaptability, not rigid adherence to centuriesolddoctrine or forms, and this is the essence of our project.There is no going back to the past or reviving lineages that havebeen broken by the postmodern age. We can only go forward,taking inspiration from the old ways and building something newand powerful with them. The fact that we were born into apostmodern world of weaklings without traditions does not meanthat we must adopt those same values. We are free, as no peoplein history have been free, to choose our traditions going forward.17Page 18The Ninja HandbookSo we choose the Way of the Black Ninja as a potent antidote tothe ills of this age, and we offer this vision to others out of sheerpassion to see a new Ninja Brotherhood come into existence, anda new lineage of shadow warriors be born.To express our feelings on this matter, we wrote these fourhaikus in the traditional Japanese style:Ninja clans unknownIn shadows training, creepingAre you one of us?Ninja in a treeClimbs higher through the branchesEagles are surprised.Ninja's sword unsheathedHis victim hears no warningHead falls to the ground.Ninja on a planeA shadowed figure crawlingOver seas of time.ONE EMPIRE, ONE BROTHERHOODHistorically, the Ninja of Iga and Kōka Provinces developed aconcept they called Ichigun Ichimi—One District, One Band. Thisbecame the motto of the loose-knit brotherhood of Ninja clansthat existed there, in the historical heartland of the Ninja. NatoriMasatake explains this idea in the Shoninki:Later, the people from Kōka, next to Iga, followed this path ofninjutsu and having made the oath of Ichigun Ichimi, thefriendship oath of “one district and one band,” joining thepeople together. They went out expansively to variousprovinces to utilize their skills. Thus, being universallyrecognized as the premier shinobi, they exchanged a firmwritten form of oath, which says “If I come to where you are,you should show me everything of your province, and if youcome to where I am, I will show you everything about myprovince.” By doing this, it is said they should show that theirfamily tradition was extraordinarily exquisite and outstandingand also show the marvel of their tradition of ninjutsu, at itsbest. However, being asked what they should do regarding the18Page 19Black Ninja Brotherhoodoffspring of shinobi, or if a complete stranger comes alongwithout recognition, there is a traditional way of constructing atorch within the clan. You should regard this torch asevidence, so that you should never suspect anyone who bearsit.In other words, the Ninjas of any clan that took this oath werewilling to share secret knowledge with each other, provided theycould prove their belonging in the Ichigun Ichimi brotherhood bydemonstrating a secret Ninja skill. Thus a Ninja secret societywas created, which helped them to survive amidst the largersamurai-dominated society.Similarly, the Black Ninja will have a loose brotherhood of Clans,each of which maintains its independence, but agrees to share itsknowledge and offer assistance to members of other allied Clans.Our slogan, spoken in our Black Tongue called Borgal, reads:Gūm Karzāth, Gūm Gazūl{ One Empire, One Brotherhood }Every Clan who belongs to our Brotherhood should display thisslogan in their dojo. Written vertically in our Harzād script, it lookslike this:19Page 20The Ninja HandbookNINJA CLANSHistorically, Ninja Clans were just that: extended families boundby blood and heritage to the ways of the Ninja warriors. Childrenwere trained from a young age in Ninjutsu by fathers and eldersof the Clan; lineages of Grandmasters or Jonin (Clan leaders)were transmitted from father to son. Such Ninja Clans were verydifferent from modern shadow warrior organizations, which areideologically rather than family-based and serve abstractions like“the state”, “the nation” or “the corporation” rather than theirClan's interests and traditions. Ninja Clans were more like mafiafamilies, who are loyal to their own kin first, follow their owncodes, enforce their own laws and maintain secrecy towardoutsiders.In time, our Black Ninja Clans will also become feudal, hereditarysocieties. There is a power in being raised in a tradition andpreserving it as a blood lineage that cannot be matched by nonhereditaryorganizations.But for now,as we establish this newtradition,we have opened our doors to all those who are drawn toourBlack Ninja ways, regardless of their heritage. Takeadvantageof this opportunity now,because it may not come20Page 21Black Ninja Brotherhoodagain!Our Black Ninja Clans have a hierarchical structure of four levels,described below.NINJA LORDEach Ninja Clan is led by one supreme leader, who holds the titleo f Dark Lord in our Black Brotherhood (see below). This NinjaLord has been initiated and trained by the Dark Lords in theirblack arts, developing a mastery of metaphysics, strategy,philosophy, black magick and manipulation that will enable him tobe an effective Black Ninja leader. The Ninja Lord may also amember of our Dark Council—the inner circle of Dark Lords whoadvise us and carry out our directives via Black Ninja Clans andother resources.The Ninja Lord is a master strategist who directs his Clan'soperations, determines who it will make alliances with and who itwill go to war with. He is also a philosopher and mystic, whoguides the Clan using his advanced knowledge of variousesoteric sciences such as divination and meditation. The NinjaLord's identity is kept secret from the Agents for greater discretionand security.NINJA COMMANDERSBelow the Ninja Lord are the executives of the Clan, called NinjaCommanders. They act as middlemen between the Ninja Lordand the Agents, responsible for implementing the Lord'sdirectives. Only Commanders know the identity of the Ninja Lord,which they must not reveal on pain of death. Commanders meetregularly with the Ninja Lord at the Clan dojo, and may also takepart in rituals at the Clan Temple. The top Commanders are alsoApprentices of the Ninja Lord, which ensures their loyalty to theLord and to the Black Brotherhood. Commanders are skilledstrategists, managers and motivators who are familiar with theskills of the various Agents and how to employ them mosteffectively.NINJA AGENTSNinja Agents are the field operatives of the Clan, responsible forcarrying out missions assigned to them by Commanders. NinjaAgents are well trained in Black Ninja skills and well indoctrinatedin Black Ninja ideology before being activated for operations.21Page 22The Ninja HandbookThey will acquire specialized skills over time to increase theirusefulness to the Clan. Agents are loyal to the Ninja Lord and theClan above all else; they are expected to carry out the Lord'sdirectives unquestioningly, and should be suspicious and hostileto all outsiders.NINJA ACOLYTESNinja Acolytes are new initiates of our Black Brotherhood whohave chosen the Ninja path in the Dark Lords' Empire. The taskof the Ninja Acolyte is to learn the skills and ideology of the BlackNinjas well enough to be activated for Black Ninja operations.Acolytes may be initiated and trained remotely, or they may betrained in-person at a Black Ninja Dag (training group), Clan dojoor Black Ninjutsu school.OTHER CLAN ELEMENTSCLAN SYMBOLSEvery Black Ninja Clan has a unique symbol, which is used todecorate the walls of its dojos, sign its scrolls, inscribe weapons,sew on clothing, use as warnings to enemies and generally“brand” the Clan's identity into the minds of its members.The Ninja make great use of symbols in this way because theyunderstand the power symbols have over the Shadow-mind.Symbols route around the conscious mind and communicatedirectly with the unconscious, Shadow-mind, which is the part ofthe mind that most interests Black Ninja. A symbol can sear itselfinto the Shadow-mind so powerfully that the mere sight of itcauses a surge of ki energy, inspiration...or fear. Some symbolsof our Black Ninja Clans are show in the Ideology section of thisBook.CLAN IDEOLOGYEvery Clan will develop its own unique ideology, based on its ownhistory, personalities and traditions. One Clan might be foundedby an ex-Zen Buddhist who has a mystical vision of a “BlackSun”, becomes “endarkened” and forms a Clan of “Black Knights”who specialize in strategy and mysticism. Another might befounded by an ex-Special Forces sniper who has a Dark Taoistawakening after returning to civilian life and forms a Clanspecializing in assassination. Perhaps another is founded by a22Page 23Black Ninja Brotherhooddisgruntled former student of one of the well-known WhiteNinjutsu martial arts clubs, who was nearly killed by terrorists,thugs or police and forms a Clan specializing in the darkermethods of combat and survival favored by the Black Ninjas. Thepossibilities are endless; let a thousand Black Ninja Clans bloom,and let the Dark Tao decide what forms they take in the comingage!SCROLLSThe accumulated wisdom and knowledge of a Clan is recorded insacred writings called “scrolls”. In feudal Japan, these were actualscrolls of rolled-up paper on which the Clan's secrets were handwritten.In the modern age, a Clan's scrolls may be recorded in ablankbook, inscribed on metal or stone tablets or in some otherform,but it is still best to write them on paperrolls in honor of theNinjatradition. AClan's most secret scrolls should be handwrittenrather than recorded digitally to prevent them from beingeasilyduplicated or “pirated”. They should be stored securely attheClan's dojo under lock and key,with only the Lord and hisauthorizedApprentices having access to them.Perhaps one hand-written copy of the scrolls will be kept at asecret location known only to the Lord and his closestconfidantes, to ensure that if the dojo is ever burned down andthe Lord killed, the Clan's knowledge will live on after them. EveryClan must always act is such a way as to perpetuate theirexistence forever, and never become so short-sighted that onesudden blow could destroy them forever. This principle is codifiedin the Ninth Canon of the Black Ninjas: Preservation.DOJOSEvery Black Ninja Clan has a sacred space where they meet tolearn the ways of our kind. In Japanese, such a space is called adojo, which means “place of the Way”. It must be understood thatthe dojo is more than a place of training; it is also a shrine, wherethe deeds and spirits of Clan Brothers who have come beforepermeate the space, giving it a magickal power that no mundanegymnasium can match.The design of a dojo is traditionally very “Zen” in style, with clean,open spaces and minimal decoration. On one side, near theentrance, is the shomen, where students sit in rows; there isusually a shrine to Black Ninpo gods in this area also (see Book23Page 24The Ninja HandbookFour). Opposite the shomen at the back of the dojo is the kamiza:the place of honor, which features a low platform where theMaster sits, instructing the students of the Clan. The Clan'ssymbol should be painted on the wall behind the Master'splatform.BLACK RYUSWe foresee the establishment of a number of Black Ninjutsuschools, or Black Ryus, where members of Black Ninja Clans andallied Orders will go to receive their training. The Black Ryus willbe secret academies where Black Ninjas from around the worldgather to study subjects such as espionage, assassination,sabotage, combat, communications, psychological warfare,wildnerness survival, black magick and other dark Ninja arts.The flagship Black Ryu is known as Black Dragon Academy. Itwas founded by the Dark Lords in Imperial Year five to trainwarriors of the Black Dragon Clan to act as guardians of theBlack Temple. The Academy is located on the Dark Lord'scompound, a secluded, forested property where students havethe opportunity to climb huge trees, conduct Ninja war games,train for combat, study stealth and survivalism, read books andscrolls in our extensive Black Ninjutsu library and meditate at theBlack Temple.The Dark Tao willing, there will be many more such Black Ryus—the locations of which shall be a closely guarded secret knownonly to the Dark Lords.BLACK TEMPLESBlack Temples are holy houses recognized and consecrated bythe Dark Lords as sites of spiritual power in their dark theocracy.Together, the Black Temples form the Borzakshod-Dūm—theBlack Temple Axis responsible for accumulating the black ki orVril needed by the Dark Lords for their campaign of worldconquest.Black Temples are presided over by the Imperial faction calledBlack Templars, who are the priests and acolytes of the DarkLords' dark religion. Black Templars practice a formless darkspirituality that has been described as “Dark Taoism”, “Black SunZen”, “Black Tantra”, “Diabolism”, “Sithism” and “Black Magick”,24Page 25Black Ninja Brotherhoodamong other terms. For more information about Black Temples,the Black Templars, and the black magickal vision behind them,see our book The Templar Handbook, available from BlackTemple Publishing.Black Ninjas are expected to attend Black Temple services andlearn Black Temple spirituality as part of their indoctrination. Theymay also be called upon to defend Black Temples or carry outcovert operations for Black Templars from time to time, just as thehistorical Ninjas once defended Buddhist and Shinto temples anddid favors for their priests in ancient Japan.THE BLACK BROTHERHOOD AND THE EMPIREThe Black Ninjas are allies of an Order of Black Magicians knownas the Black Brotherhood. This Brotherhood is led by twosupreme “Dark Lords” known as the Ruling Two, and their innercircle of lesser Dark Lords called the Dark Council. The DarkLords are in the process of publishing a series of books thatdescribe their vision, ideology and training program for those whoaspire to join their ranks. By completing the training contained inthese books, Acolytes may become Apprentices of the DarkLords and earn the rank of Dark Lord themselves.The Dark Lords are in the process of establishing new worldorder called the Empire, which is a secret government of blackmagicians—a Black Magocracy—who use every method ofsorcery, religion and occult warfare to establish and expand theirpower.Black Ninja Clan-Lords are themselves Dark Lords in the BlackBrotherhood and some are members of the Dark Council.Through them, the will of the Ruling Two and the Dark Tao istransmitted to the Black Ninja operatives, who are the shadowsoldiers and hidden fists of the Empire.It may seem ironic that Ninjas, who historically were persecutedby the Shogunate government and formed rebellious clans, wouldalign themselves with a brutal regime like the Empire. But this isanother area where Black Ninjas differ from modern “good-guy”accounts of the Ninjas. In the first place, historical Ninjas oftendid fight for Shoguns and warlords, so it is incorrect to think thatNinjas were a tribe of “freedom-fighters”. Secondly, Black Ninjasare not anarchists, and don't believe anarchy to be a possibility.25Page 26The Ninja HandbookAlways the strong and the spiritually powerful will rule over theweak and ignorant. The Black Ninjas choose to fight for theEmpire not just because it is founded upon this “might is right”principle, but because it is led by a Black Brotherhood whounderstand the supreme importance of the Will, the magickalimagination, the Dark Tao, Black Temples and ki in the pursuit ofindividual and collective greatness. The Black Ninja prefer to liveunder their regime of endarkened imperial greatness than aregime of soulless technocrats, white magicians, peace-mongersand other false creeds of the white light warriors. The BlackNinjas can thus be thought of as “Dark Knights”, or “blacksamurai” of a “shadow Shogunate” that is extending its tentaclesacross the world.The entire Black Ninja organizational network ofDark Council, Clans, Ryus and Temples that we envision isshown in the schematic below:26Page 27Black Ninja Brotherhood27Page 28The Ninja HandbookNINJA TRAININGNow let us discuss the core of Black Ninjutsu: training to developthe skills needed for Black Ninja missions.STARTING ON THE PATHIdeally, Ninja training should begin in early childhood, before theage of nine. This is the best time to begin training, because themind is still very fresh and impressionable. Those who are older,even those over 20, can still find value on this path, but theyshould also be thinking about the next generation. Develop yourskills and join a Clan so that you can raise your children in ourways. This is the proper way to be a Ninja; it is not merely a pathof selfish empowerment, but a lineage of power and knowledgethat we pass on to our descendants.When you are ready to begin on the path of the Black Ninja,contact our Brotherhood for further guidance at the followingaddress: blackninjas@thedarklords.com.THE NINE TRAINING HALLSOur Black Ninjutsu training system is divided into nine “Halls”, orcategories of Ninja skill and mastery. All nine Halls will beattended throughout your Ninja training, just as you would attenddifferent halls of a university. The Master might take the Acolyteto the Hall of the Body one week, the Hall of Espionage the next,the Hall of Strategy the next, or any other combination he deemsappropriate. Each Hall will have assignments associated withthem, culminating in final Trials that signify that the Acolyte haslearned the basic disciplines of that Hall. Here are the Nine Halls:Hall of the Body: Physical skills, including running, stealthwalking, climbing, swimming and hand-to-hand combat.Hall of the Mind: Mental skills, including meditation, sensorytraining, observation and memory.Hall of the Spirit: Metaphysical development: mysticism, BlackNinpo religion, Kuji-Kiri, magick, etc.Hall of Espionage: Spycraft; gathering information,communication, surveillance, recruiting informants.Hall of Sabotage: Skill with explosives, incendiary devices,arson, dirty tricks, psychological warfare, computer hacking, etc.28Page 29Black Ninja BrotherhoodHall of Assassination: Killing with hands, firearms, blades,explosives, poisons, etc.; sentry removal, kidnapping, breakingand entering, covering tracks.Hall of Scouting: Skill with reconnaissance, stealth, navigation,infiltration, evasion, bushcraft, wilderness survival.Hall of Science: Skill with chemistry—poisons, medicines, truthserums, drugs. Skill with forensic science, computers, mechanics,electronics, communications and surveillance.Hall of Strategy: Learn shadow warfare strategy and tactics.Study military classics like Sun-Tzu, Ninja manuals like theShoninki and Bansenshukai, as well as modern thinkers.BLACK NINJA TRAINING GROUPS (DAGZ)Black Ninja Aspirants who cannot train in-person with a BlackNinja Clan are encouraged to form independent training groups,called Dagz, in their local area. Dagz are a way to train and studywith other Aspirants, recruit others to the Brotherhood andexpand the Empire’s tentacles into your territory. A Dag can beanything from two people who train and conduct operationstogether using this book as a guide, to a dozen or more peoplewho operate their own independent Clan following the doctrinedescribed in this book.Note: any group of Aspirants who establishes a Dag and takesthe oath of the Black Ninja Brotherhood may be eligible forrecognition as an official Black Ninja Clan in the future. Think ofDagz as seeds of future Clans, which may bloom into powerfulshadow armies, if the Dark Tao wills it.DAG GUIDELINESThe following are some guidelines for forming and operating asuccessful Black Ninja Dag. These are designed especially forlarger groups that aspire to become official Black Ninja Clans.Meme: Choose a name for the Dag; it could be named after alocation, an idea, a symbol or something else. Also create apowerful symbol for the Dag that will “brand” itself into the mindsof Dag members as a unifying emblem.Hierarchy: Assign ranks to your Dag members according toBlack Ninja doctrine: Agents, Commanders and a Lord. You may29Page 30The Ninja Handbookalso use a non-hierarchical “Black Brotherhood” if you wish.Initiation: Initiate new members into your Dag by requiring themto take the “One Empire, One Brotherhood” oath to the BlackNinja Brotherhood described elsewhere in this book. Use yourDag's symbolism in the initiation ritual.Dag Name: All Initiates should choose an appropriate Dag nameto protect their identity and establish their Black Ninja persona.Code of Conduct: Establish a Code of Conduct to maintain orderwithin the Dag. You may follow the Nine Canons of the NinjaBrotherhood described in this book, or use a minimal set of rulessuch as the Black Brotherhood Code:◆ Never dishonor the Dark Tao.◆ Never betray the Brotherhood or its secrets.◆ Never refuse to carry out an order from a Dag superior.◆ Never steal the possessions of a Dag member.◆ Never harm a Dag member who obeys these rules.Scrolls: Dag leaders should record important events andthoughts in the Dag's “scrolls”. Scrolls could be actual paperscrolls, journals, notebooks or digital files. Store them in a secure,secret location, and include paper print-outs of any digitalwritings. Creating such scrolls is good training for the aspiringClan Lord; they also provide a record of the Dag's activities whichmay be used as part of a Dag member's application to a BlackNinja Clan.Activities: The activities of a Dag will depend on its members'passions and knowledge, but basic Ninja skills training such asstealth, infiltration, climbing, bushcraft, intelligence gathering,hand-to-hand combat, breaking and entering, use of weapons,chemical compounds and fire should always be part of thecurriculum. Philosophical and esoteric studies such as militarystrategy, meditation, Kuji-In, magick and Dark Taoism should alsobe pursued.30Page 31NINJA IDEOLOGYThe Black Ninja have developed a code and a collection ofprinciples to guide their missions. These principles are based onthe hard-won wisdom of the historical Ninja, passed down fromancient times and preserved through the centuries in secretscrolls. Here we describe some of these principles, which are astrue for a Black Ninja operating in the 21st century West as theywere for the shinobi warriors of feudal Japan.THE NINE MAXIMS OF THE NINJAThe Nine Maxims of the Ninja are the central guiding principles ofthe Black Ninja. Study them well and live by them.1. Strengthen the body; it is your foundation.2. Stay in the shadows and be silent.3. Endure all hardships; overcome all obstacles.4. Control your mind; discipline your desires.5. Affiliate with a Clan and obey its rules.6. Think outside all boxes.7. Be mindful of your surroundings.8. Make war by way of deception.9. Be like the wind—a formless, invisible force.MAXIM ONE: STRENGTHStrengthen the body; it is your foundation.The way of the Ninja begins with physical fitness—running,climbing, strength training, swimming, agility, etc. A fit body is thefoundation your power, self-discipline and strength, and a directmanifestation of your strength of spirit. Your body cannot befooled like your mind; it always tells the truth. Your body knowswhat you fear, what you like, what you love, what you hate. Butyour body can be mastered, molded and made subject to yourwill, and this is the first task of the Ninja Acolyte.31Page 32The Ninja HandbookMAXIM TWO: SECRECYStay in the shadows and be silent.The most literal meaning of the word “ninja” or “shinobi” is “onewho steals in” or “one who hides”. This is the first defining qualityof a Ninja: stealth, secrecy, and the ability to evade pursuers. ANinja who is out in the open, exposed to enemies, spotted andcaptured is a doomed Ninja; a Ninja who shares his vital secretswith anyone outside his Clan risks exposure, capture and death.Understanding the importance of this Maxim in a visceral way intoday's world, when the consequences of exposure are rarelyterrible torture and death, can be difficult. Operating by thisMaxim in an era of mass transparency, surveillance and policingis even more difficult. But the principle remains true: thesuccessful Ninja, the surviving Ninja, is one who no one suspectsof being a Ninja.MAXIM THREE: ENDURANCEEndure all hardships; overcome all adversity.The second connotation of the word “ninja” is “one who endures”.The ability to endure great hardships during missions, to not bediscouraged or defeated by adversity, pain or long odds, is oftenthe difference between success and failure. The Ninja, like othernoted warriors and heroes, are celebrated for their almostsuperhuman endurance.This is another area where the Ninja mindset is at odds with theethos of the modern world. People of this age are very soft, valuecomfort above all things, and have limited ability to endurehardships that their forefathers took for granted. This is a societyof tender “snowflakes”; the Black Ninja is an indestructiblediamond.MAXIM FOUR: FORBEARANCEControl your mind; discipline your desires.A third meaning of “ninja” is “one who forebears”. This means theability to control one's mind and bodily urges, to be disciplined,patient and able to delay satisfying one's urges at will.Forbearance is vital for a Ninja, who may have to watch a targetfor hours our days at a time, take shelter in holes in the ground,and go long periods without food, water, shelter, sleep or any of32Page 33Ninja Ideologythe other things that human beings naturally seek.Again, this is challenging for people raised in a modern societythat encourages them to indulge every whim, satisfy every lust,consume anything that makes them feel good, and exercise aslittle self-control as possible. Lack of forbearance is why we havethe modern epidemics of addiction, obesity, and degeneracy ofevery kind. But for the Ninja, forbearance is essential, becausetheir work requires them to do extreme, trying and terrify thingsthat are only possible with tremendous self-discipline.MAXIM FIVE: AFFILIATIONAffiliate with a Clan and obey its rules.The historical Ninja were never “lone wolves” who operatedindependently of an organization. This idea is a fabrication of theWestern mind, which glorifies “cowboy” individualism and lonevigilantes over group belonging and tradition. In reality, the Ninjaneeded the support of a clan to survive in a brutal world; theyneeded the knowledge, resources, network of informants andbrothers-in-arms to master their craft, do their jobs and completetheir missions. And the same is true of Ninja today.Those who wish to join the ranks of the Black Ninja must becomeaffiliated with our Brotherhood. They may start by forming a Dagtraining group and taking their Brotherhood Oath, or they mayseek entry directly into an existing Clan. Once admitted to a Clan,they must obey its laws, for without strict group discipline theBlack Ninja cannot expect to operate effectively or survive forlong.MAXIM SIX: IMAGINATIONThink outside all boxes.The Ninja mindset is that all things are possible, the Dark Taopermitting. Limitations created by one's own mind, or by thethoughts of others, are not to be respected. Never let yourconcept of what is possible be dulled by the conventions of anyculture. Conform outwardly when necessary, but inwardly remainunfettered. For your imagination is a mighty mental weapon,which can break through castle walls of convention and cut downarmies of predictable thinkers.Thus the Ninja is a creative, outside-the-box thinker, who33Page 34The Ninja Handbookapproaches every situation with a fresh and open mind. Live yourlife by this Maxim; in every situation, look for unexpected angles,outrageous approaches and surprising attacks. Think theunthinkable as a matter of course. You will find that the Tao willreward your imagination with victory much more often thandefeat.MAXIM SEVEN: MINDFULNESSAlways be mindful of your surroundings.Ninjas walk a dangerous path, fraught with foes and pitfalls thatthreaten them with destruction. They must infiltrate enemyterritory and gather sensitive information while avoiding detection.Therefore the Ninja must always be mindful of his surroundings,in both the physical and metaphysical sense.Physical mindfulness means developing a keen awareness of allyour senses, using mindfulness meditation, sensory exercisesand observation training. Metaphysical mindfulness means beingin tune to the minds of others—their feelings, thoughts, hopesand fears. This is what Japanese martial artists call haragei: nonverbal,intuitive communication, anticipation and awareness ofthreats.It means developing a “sixth sense” for danger and“extra-sensoryperception”. The Ninja does not neglect any oftheseskills.MAXIM EIGHT: DECEPTIONMake war by way of deception.We have already discussed Kyojitsu: the art of deception, and itsimportance for the Ninja. Diversions, feints, disguises,concealments and tricks of every kind are favored by the Ninjaover straightforward attacks, because the Ninja are not Samuraiwho bring overwhelming force to the battlefield. We arepsychological warriors and magicians, who cultivate the skills ofthe stage magician and the actor: a flair for the dramatic, theability to deceive, play different roles, misdirect, hypnotize,enthrall and “shock and awe”. Deception will be useful in almostany Ninja mission, whether it involves covert assault, scouting,undercover espionage, black propaganda, security or what haveyou.MAXIM NINE: FORMLESSNESS34Page 35Ninja IdeologyBe like the wind—a formless, invisible force.I must state, that, ninpo, the way of the ninja, makes its way,running towards a great void. If you ask what ninpo is, theanswer is it has no shape. If ninpo is sought for, it has noheart. Just try to see and realize clearly the way of your ownnatural mind. —The ShoninkiThe Ninja who has no fixed form, who cannot be seen, heard oreven suspected, is the most dangerous Ninja of all. The Ninjawho works his will invisibly, becoming a force of nature like thewind, is the most powerful type of being. This is the highest stateof Ninjutsu mastery: never drawing attention to yourself, neverleaving calling-cards, always changing your outer form, makingevery operation look like an accident or an act of the gods. TheNinja who wishes to endure will follow this advice. Flashypersonalities burn brightly but soon flame out; rigid organizationscannot adapt to change and soon fail; but subtle, formless powerthat stays in the shadows and adapts to any eventuality cansurvive forever.It is said that the greatest trick the Devil ever pulled is to convincethe world he doesn't exist. The same is true of the Ninja, whohave been called devils for similar reasons. For both the Deviland Black Ninjas know this to be true: only power that is hidden ispower that endures. Be as formless and nameless as the DarkTao itself, and none can deny or destroy you.THE NINE CANONSThe Nine Canons are the laws of the Black Ninja Brotherhood.They ensure that our Clans will operate in a disciplined andeffective way, and will not be destroyed by hostile forces.Canon 1 (Expulsion): I understand that violation of any of theNine Canons or Nine Maxims of the Black Ninjas is grounds forpermanent expulsion from the Brotherhood. I understand thatAcolytes and Agents can be expelled at any time by decree of theCommanders, but Commanders can only be expelled by decreeof the Lord. The Lord can only be dismissed by decree of theDark Council.Canon 2 (Chain of Command): I acknowledge that the BlackNinja chain of command flows directly from the Dark Tao to thetwo supreme Dark Lords (“the Two”) to the Dark Council, to the35Page 36The Ninja HandbookLord, Commanders, Agents and Acolytes, in order of descendingauthority.Canon 3 (Clan Training): I understand that to become an Agentof a Black Ninja Clan, I must complete the Clan's basic trainingprogram under the guidance of other Clan members.Canon 4 (Apprenticeship): I understand that to become a ClanLord, I must become an Apprentice of the current Lord and passthe Lord Trials. To become a Clan Commander, I must becomean Apprentice to a Commander and pass the Commander Trials.Canon 5 (Violations): I agree that if I find a Clan Commander tobe in violation of any of the Nine Maxims or Nine Canons I willchallenge him. If the issue is not resolved, I will appeal to theother Commanders.Canon 6 (Secrecy): I agree to never reveal any informationabout the Black Ninja Brotherhood to outsiders. This includes theidentities of members, locations of dojos and safe houses,information about Clan operations, strategies, training, techniquesor resources. I understand that violation of this Canon will resultin the harshest punishment.Canon 7 (Exclusivity): I agree to only pursue Ninja training andoperations with the Black Ninja Brotherhood; I will not associatewith any other Ninja order unless it is the will of the Clan Lord.Canon 8 (Alteration): I understand that the Nine Maxims andNine Canons of the Brotherhood may only be altered by decree ofthe Dark Lords, as so guided by the Dark Tao itself.Canon 9 (Preservation): I understand that if a Clan Lord dies, hewill be replaced by his senior Apprentice. If the Clan's dojo isdestroyed, a new one will be built. If the Clan's scrolls are lost,they will be restored from a second copy, kept in a location knownonly to the Clan Lord and his senior Apprentice. If an entire Clanis wiped out, a new Clan should be formed by whoever recoversthe Clan's scrolls and feels so guided by the Dark Tao.POWER SYMBOLS“Signs and symbols rule the world, not words nor laws.” —ConfuciusBlack Ninjas believe strongly in the power of symbols, to reorder36Page 37Ninja Ideologyconsciousness, focus the will, and awaken perceptions in theshadow-mind and spirit. The power of symbols lies in their abilityto bypass the conscious mind, which contains filters that resisttheir influence, and work directly upon the subconscious mind,which is the source of a Black Ninja's greatest power.Below are some power symbols used by the Dark Lords and theBlack Ninja Brotherhood for this purpose. See which ones youare drawn to, then try drawing them and meditating upon them inyour personal dojo.BLACK NINJA STARThe Black Ninja Star is the basic symbol of our Black NinjaBrotherhood. It has nine points, representing the Nine Temples,Nine Cuts, Nine Maxims, Nine Canons and other elements of ourideology that incorporate the mystical power of the number nine.The Black Star is used as a seal on official Brotherhood scrolls,letters and other documentation; it is also engraved on sacredkatanas, tantos, shurikens, staffs and other items used by theClan Lords as a symbol of their authority.Every dojo or dag that gives its allegiance to the Black NinjaBrotherhood should put the Black Star seal on a wall, banner orshrine to symbolize its membership in our network.BLACK NINJA KANJI37Page 38The Ninja HandbookThis is “Black Ninja” written in the Chinese Kanji alphabet. Thefirst character means “dark” or “covert”; the second means“endure” or “steal in”; the third means “one who”. It is pronounced“an-nin-ja”. It may be written on banners, dojo walls, Clan scrolls,weapons and other items that are never seen by outsiders.暗 忍者TAIJITU SEALThe Taijitu Seal is the classic yin-yang symbol inlaid upon theBlack Ninja Nonagram. The Taijutu is a reminder of the profoundtruth that everything gives rise to its opposite; reality is made ofpolarities; there is no “pure darkness” or “pure light”. As NatoriMasatake says: “life exists within death, death exists within life”.Here the black or “yin” region of the symbol is above the white or“yang” region, symbolizing the ascendancy of the Dark Tao overthe Light Tao in Black Ninjutsu philosophy. The Taijitu Seal isused by Black Ninja Clans as a general symbol of our philosophyand way of life.BLACK CIRCLEThe Black Circle is a symbol of the Dark Tao or Black Sun—themetaphysical dark side of existence, and of our own minds andspirits. The Dark Lords use this as a prophetic symbol, torepresent the dawning of the “Age of Endarkenment” they believeis falling across the world. It is also the symbol of the Black Circle38Page 39Ninja IdeologyClan—foreseen to be one of the darkest of all the Black NinjaClans.NONAGRAMThe Nonagram (Grazkurod) is a nine-pointed symbol of blackmagickal power used in rituals by sorcerers and Templars. It isused to create circles of protection, to invoke the Nine MentalWeapons, to open portals into the Dar (Abyss), to focus black ki,and as a symbol of the Dark Lords formless magick and power.The Nonagram is also drawn during the Nine Cuts of Powermagickal ritual to impose the Black Ninja's will upon the world.KUJI-KIRI
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