THE SHNINKI

COMPLETE LIST OF SKILLS

BY
ANTONY CUMMINS
VERSION 1.1

The following list is a comprehensive analysis and break down of the Shninki manual
written in 1681 by Natori Sanjro Masazumi. Due to the complexity of the manual this list
has been created to help Natori-Ry students digest the teachings and to be used as a
framework for dj-captains who are facilitating study. Antony Cummins gives his
permission to distribute this list freely to promote and enhance the study of ninjutsu and of
Natori-Ry.
The collection of skills is a section by section extraction from the manual. Certain criteria
were put in place to identify and establish the skills that follow. Firstly, any obvious skill that
can be plainly identified was extracted. Secondly, any skill that was indirectly mentioned,
such as one the manual informs to defend against, or to be aware of was given its own
number in the list. Thirdly, any skill that the manual identifies as a lesser idea or something
that is considered acceptable but not preferable has also been included however any aspects
which are directly advised against in the manual have not been included. Furthermore, major
concepts alluded to or tied in with a teaching, even though secondary to the aim of the text
have been included as they show an understanding of the subject by the author. Furthermore,
multiple subjects that were combined within a single teaching have been separated and given
their own position within the list.
With an understanding of this process, enjoy the collected skills which were recorded in
Natori-Rys manual, the Shninki, an assemblage that will hopefully expand the public
understanding of ninjutsu. To read the full translation click the image below:

Shninki Jo

Try Shninki
1. The history of the shinobi in Japan

Ninpei no Shina
2. A man who knows the ways of ninjutsu and acts independently is a shinobi
3. A history of Chinese spies
4. Ink no kan local spy
5. Nairy no kan - inward spy
6. Hantoku no kan converted spy
7. Shich no kan doomed spy
8. Tensei no kan - living spy
9. The art of kyod local knowledge
10. Togiki listening from the outside
11. Planting misinformation
12. An outline of the shinobi no mono
13. An outline of the nusubito thief
14. The concept of the hunter and the deer

Shninki Ichiry no Shidai

15. Understanding mastery is a difficult thing
16. Mental preparation before a mission
17. Understanding the ideogram for shinobi
18. Know that path of the shinobi is horrifying
19. The concept of kyojitsu in mind and substance
20. To have eloquent speech
21. Have the ability to discuss a distant province
22. To tell a story about an unknown place
23. To befriend a total stranger
24. To buy things with no money
25. To eat food that has not been given
26. To pretend to be drunk
27. To learn all arts that can be learnt
28. To disguise yourself as an old woman
29. To sleep in the wilderness without shelter
30. To seek and find shadows and dark places
31. Understanding that fujitsu is found inside jitsu
32. Do not be blinded by falsehoods and deception
33. Maintain the correct principles and path of Natori-Ry

Shninki Shokan

Shinobu Idetachi no Narai

34. The fundamental principle is to not be discovered
35. To possess outfits of disguise
36. To use the amigasa hat to hide the face
37. To prepare and use the grappling hook
38. To carry a writing tool
39. To carry medicine
40. To carry a three foot section of cloth
41. To have fire starting equipment
42. To climb and descend with a grappling hook
43. To bind and grapple another using the grappling hook
44. To lock a door with a grappling hook
45. The use of the konawa small rope
46. Extending the obi sash with the tenugui to use as rope
47. Understanding the skill of jiyaki scorched earth policy
48. Understanding the skill of hka arson
49. Utilise clothes with colours that blend in
50. Use a cloth raincoat to change your shape and blend in to a crowd
51. To use the o-wakizashi short sword
52. To cover the sword blade in ink
53. To use a fast fitting obi
54. Disguise yourself as a komus - itinerant monk
55. Disguise yourself as a shukke Buddhist priest
56. Disguise yourself as a yamabushi - mountain hermit
57. Disguise yourself as a akindo - merchant
58. Disguise yourself as a hkashi - street entertainer
59. Disguise yourself as a sarugaku - performer
60. Disguise yourself in tsune no katachi to be in plain clothes
61. Know that a false identity should fit your personality
62. Know and use Kiichis five points for enticement
63. Use a quietness of voice
64. To use the baiboku mouth gag
65. To understand the concept of dakk [and its three aspects].
66. To eavesdrop on others
67. To use music to your advantage
68. To follow and shadow people
69. To cause disorder so as to take advantage
70. To take advantage of small gaps that appear
71. To get close to the enemy using shadows in stealth
72. To take advantage of negligence to enter
73. To investigate local areas and events
74. To deceive people through disguises and mutation
 75. To gather information via gaining trust
76. To keep your deception hidden from others
77. To keep reason (dri) above all other things
78. To have an awareness of the environment

Shiranu Yamaji no Narai

79. To understand and control the feeling of uneasiness in the mountains
80. To decide the direction to take by using an old verve
81. To identify human rubbish along a road
82. Know that well-travelled roads are compacted and hard
83. Know that lesser travelled roads are softer
84. To observe and identify areas that have been cultivated
85. To observe if birds are easily startled
86. To follow a person and concentrate on their back in the snow
87. To measure snow with a cane
88. To identify a path in the snow with a cane
89. Never guess at the path in a snowstorm
90. Follow an animal that knows the local area
91. Knot grass to identify where you have been
92. To make mental lists of the directions you have been
93. When at a dead end retrace your steps and start again without delay
94. To make and carry the donohi body warmer

Yomichi no Koto
95. Know that to work at night is deemed suspicious by others
96. Observe the skyline from a crouched position
97. Taste roads for salt content to know how well travelled they are
98. Differentiating between fences, bushes and humans
99. To use the fan as an horizon to understand the movement of a light
100. To know when to walk in front or behind a torch bearer
101. In a sword fight keep the light on the enemy while staying in the dark
102. Bring a light out from the shadow of your body
103. In a bright moon walk in the shadows
104. Place your hand over your face to not be seen
105. Identify people via their footsteps
106. Change your own footsteps to deceive the enemy
107. Nukiashi pulling up the feet
108. Suriashi sliding the feet
109. Shimiashi restrained steps
110. Tobiashi leaping steps
111. Kataashioto gimping walk
112. Oashi long strides
113. Koashi short strides
114. Kizamiashi chopping steps
 115. Hashiriashi running
116. Tsunenoashi normal walking

Kinshuku Toriiru Narai

117. Infiltrate a house without fear
118. If there is no intelligence on the internals of a house make estimations
119. Enter a house through fake illness
120. Test metal with fire and humans with words
121. Deduce information through engaging with small talk
122. Estimate a distance by multiplying a known measurement of an area
123. Counting occupied and unoccupied houses with small counters in the sleeve
124. Counting enemy forces on the march with small counters in bags
125. Infiltrate an enemy army as a travelling merchant
126. Engage with low level people, not those who are high ranking

Kor no Narai
127. Copying the minds and ways of foxes and wolves
128. Bypass enemy checkpoints
129. Pass through checkpoints as a monk or religious pilgrim
130. Pass in a group with a dialect expert
131. Know about points of interest in different areas
132. Do not act like or be a conman

Gyba no Tsutae no Koto

133. Understand open disguise
134. Send shinobi as a messenger or servant to an envoy
135. When in enemy territory as a messenger feign illness
136. When in enemy territory as a messenger offer to defect

Kyji Keibun no Narai

137. Use religious places to gather information
138. Donate to priests to gain information
139. Do not give lower people gold it does not work as a bribe
140. Hint at high level donations to religious orders to gain information
141. Let religious men talk about their level of power and ability
142. Understand the proper places to eavesdrop

Henge no Ron
143. Do not consider other people as stupid
144. Change facial features through effects and make up
145. Know how to pretend to be crippled
 146. Know how to fake illness
147. Become unkempt and unclean

Jinch Shinobu Toki no Narai

148. Prearrange your return from a mission with allies
149. The use of smoke and light as fire signals
150. Infiltrate when the enemy are cutting timber for building
151. Infiltrate when the enemy are constructing a position
152. Infiltrate when the enemy are exhausted
153. Infiltrate the enemy during a rainstorm
154. Know the four times of infiltration at night plus infiltrating at dawn
155. Gaining enemy passwords
156. Sitting and standing with passwords (tachisuguri and isuguri)
157. Understand identification marks (aijirushi)
158. The use of question and answer passwords (aikotoba)
159. Shout and cause a distraction to avoid detection
160. Keep on the move to avoid detection
161. Hide by a well
162. Hide behind large stones
163. Hide on a cliff
164. Hide in the mountains
165. Hide in the hollow of a cave
166. Hide in a latrine
167. Stick close to walls
168. Hide in exposed places

Mizudori no Oshie
169. When the mind is busy maintain a calm exterior
170. Identify the presence of waterfowl before infiltration
171. Know that bird flight gives away the position of a shinobi
172. Birds will avoid an area that contains shinobi
173. Make and use a square raft to cross water
174. Use a wooden tub as a raft
175. Hide in water and in the shadows of trees
176. Submerge to the eye line in water and draw plant life around you
177. Breathe through a sword scabbard or bamboo in water
178. Cross a moat by using the corners [with the aid of rope]
179. Climb stone walls with grapples and spikes

Shinobiiru Jibun no Koto

180. Infiltrate a house complex when people are busy
181. Know the times of infiltration in the day
182. Know how to tell the time through the nasal cycle
 183. Know how to tell the time through eyes
184. Know the time people go to bed
185. Know the time people fall asleep
186. Know how often people stir during their sleep
187. The concept of knowing when a building sleeps
188. How to climb to a height with a sword
189. How to climb a building in silence
190. Walk along the ridge of a roof
191. Throw stones on to roofs to check for people
192. Roll a stone down the opposite side of a roof as misdirection

Shisoku no Narai
193. Know how to imitate a dog
194. Use opposite sex dogs to bypass guard dogs
195. Pre-feed guard dogs to befriend them
196. Know how to silence a dog
197. Poisoning dogs
198. Imitating a cat

Futari Shinobi no Koto

199. Two mens minds must work as one
200. Knock on a door and flee while another infiltrates
201. Know how to forge letters
202. Pretend to be a false messenger
203. Two men fight to have one gain shelter in a house to investigate

Sannin Shinobi no Koto

204. Know how to work in shinobi squads
205. Climbing a wall with three people
206. Have one infiltrator and two support agents
207. The pretend thief trick
208. Have shinobi permanently employed by the target
209. Have shinobi temporarily employed by the target

Shninki Ch Kan

Tend Chid no Narai

210. Construct distractions high and low for quick infiltration
211. Cause a distraction opposite to where you wish to climb
 212. Understanding the chi of heaven and earth
213. Try to predict the weather before an infiltration
214. Ways of predicting rain
215. Ways of predicting wind
216. Calculate sunrise and sunset
217. Calculate moonrise and moonset
218. Know how to tell the time both day and night
219. Good shinobi consider all elements together before infiltration
220. Know that all must sit well in the mind before an infiltration is attempted
221. Understand the 28 lunar mansions
222. Know the 4 lunar mansions of Sun Tzu
223. Cancel a mission if there are any areas of uncertainty
224. Infiltrate in rain be it day or night

Takaki wo Koe Hikiki ni Iru no Narai

225. Know the different shinobi tools
226. Do not carry tools that look out of place
227. Know how to build a shinobi kumade bamboo, rope and hook.
228. Use a spear to descend from a height
229. Jump down from a height with a staff
230. Descend using a rope
231. Descend by tying clothes together
232. Lowing yourself to a height and dropping down
233. Understand the different type of Japanese windows and shutters
234. Unlocking locks from the outside
235. The large saw - tsuijiyaburi
236. Insert a hollow tub into a hedge to use as an escape
237. The small saw koshikoto
238. Know how to fasten doors with extra security
239. Tie a string to your topknot or pillow when assassins infiltrate
240. Sleep even if you are targeted
241. The use of a dummy as a fake person

Shinobi ni Iro wo Kaeru to Iu Narai

242. Understanding how to imply a false lead or direction
243. Move peoples attention far away while you work up close
244. Understand the story of the master and obtaining his large pot
245. Judging financial income and economy of the enemy
246. How to block people wishing to know your financial income
247. Inserting an agent into a household

Tekifusegi to Iu Narai
 248. Laying blame on other people as misdirection
249. Steal away enemy sword blades before attacking them
250. Damaging enemy equipment
251. The use of alcohol
252. The use of sex
253. The use of gambling
254. How to retain self-control with alcohol, sex and gambling

Dainin ni Nerawarezaru Hih no Mamori
255. The charm of protection
256. The charm to form relationships
257. Knowing unlucky days
258. The three part protection charm
259. Know how to use the esoteric but do not elevate it
260. Use charred frogspawn as a blinding powder
261. Blind people with powder downwind
262. Blind people with powder while they sleep
263. Never eat anything intended just for you
264. Mix poison in alcohol, tea and water
265. Know how to pass poisoned foods back
266. Gain information by talking to and bribing children
267. Gain information by talking to and bribing servants

Kokage no Daiji
268. Know how to shelter below trees but also that it is an emergency tactic
269. Make sure to find shelter before dusk
270. Find someone to house you for the night
271. Hold up in pleasure quarters to avoid difficult questions
272. Gather information in various places
273. Seduce someones daughter and create a family

Koto wo Magirakasu no Narai

274. Know that luck and chance play a factor
275. Do not consort with scum
276. If there is a problem, create a diversion to escape
277. Leave a tool to create a misdirection trail
278. Let people know your false intentions
279. Know that people volunteer information to appear great
280. Create simple plans and avoid over complex ones

Hito ni Ri wo Tsukusasuru Narai no Koto

281. Pretend to be illogical and naive
 282. If people are told they are correct they will continue to talk
283. Do not logically pursue a point you wish to know about
284. Know that people wish to be identified as intellectual
285. Disguise your own intelligence (rik)
286. Disguise your own quick-wittedness (rihatsu)
287. Nourish your own reasoning power (dri)
288. The correct use of flattery

Nins wo Shiru Koto

289. Observe a target with a clear mind
290. Observe their posture
291. Observe their movement
292. Observe their voice type
293. Observe their colour/type and facial expressions
294. Know the different parts of the face

Stai ni Santei Aru Koto

295. Understand the art of physiognomy
296. Understand the art of palmistry
297. Do not overtly stare at a target
298. Go to a great lengths to know the enemys mind

SHNINKI GE KAN

Gokuhiden
299. Know that the lessons for shinobi are subtle and ever changing
300. Know everything of all places
301. Read the feelings of the local people
302. Understand the concept of mumon no ikan the gateless gate
303. Unify with the Principle to pass through mumon no ikan
304. Know that the human mind is too complex to fathom
305. Know that human existence can be categorised
306. Clear realisation will help things materialise from seemingly nowhere
307. Know the limitations of the written word
308. Know the limitations of the spoken word and thought
309. Use mental prowess and insight to grasp the truth of things

Mumon no Ikkan
310. Trying to force a conversation will fail
 311. Converse on similar topics to the one you are investigating
312. Construct an overall understanding from snippets of information
313. If someone is concealing an issue mark it as suspicious
314. Use extended and patient conversation
315. When asked questions give indirect answers
316. Know that asking questions hides what you have inside
317. Know that answering questions gives out information
318. Know to avoid unnatural topics
319. If someone talks above their intelligence level it is planted information
320. Changing topics confuses the enemy
321. Have the ability to profile a person without them knowing it
322. Always prepare your mind before conversing
323. Know the parable of the moon and the gate

Hito wo Yaburazaru no Narai

324. If you defeat others in a conversation you will lose in the end
325. Know when to subdue the opponent in a conversation
326. Know when to encourage the opponent in a conversation
327. Know the four principles of strong, weak, rigid and yielding
328. Compare yourself with the enemy to know their future actions or response
329. Use your knowledge of the enemy to guess their actions or response
330. Disconnecting with the enemy to gain a response

Shins no Koto
331. Understand the concept of nins reading a person
332. Understand the concept of shinso reading a persons thoughts
333. Know the difference between instructional leaning and deeper analysis
334. Observe the state of your own mind
335. Understand the seven emotions
336. Know that there is no one who has a balance of the seven emotions
337. Understand the concept of nature v nurture and how emotion develops
338. Know that a persons true nature reveals itself in an emergency
339. Know that each emotion is triggered by hidden and different stimuli

Dri to Rik to Shirubeki Koto

340. The Principle can never be wrong
341. Dori the Principle never changes
342. Only constructed logic changes
343. True reasoning sounds simple but is profound
344. People prefer cleverness and constructed logic to truth
345. Use dori the Principle to see through enemy plans
346. Use riko constructed logic to form your own plans
347. Keep your intentions covered and deep

Kokoro no Osame Ri ni Ataru Koto
348. Do not over indulge in your emotions or urges
349. Develop your chi
350. Restore your spirit by staying away from the trivial
351. Clarity and balance gives you power of mind
352. Know when not to advance even if it appears fortuitous
353. A clear mind allows you to endure the unendurable
354. Understand the 5 phases of the mind and their associated emotions
355. Control your body temperature through breathing
356. The mind changes shape because of its environment, as water does in different vessels
357. Learn to use and control the 5 phases of the mind

Mukei Benzetsu
358. Talk according to the situation
359. Have the ability to free flow a tactical conversation
360. Take advantage of the unexpected
361. Know that shinobi no jutsu is the skill of a warrior
362. Know the difference between yato and yato
363. Use shinobi as squad captains
364. Do not value life over death
365. Understand that life can exist within death
366. Let go of the life and death debate
367. Holding onto your ego causes problems
368. Have the ability to separate your mind from emotion
369. Understand the concept of muga no mushin no mind
370. Understand the difference and the limitations of advanced planning and perception
371. To move beyond advanced planning and perception is the perfect way for a shinobi
372. Avoid becoming the failed path seeker
373. Know that ninp is a void with no shape

Rijutsuh
374. Do not become overinvolved with an issue
375. Do not become entangled in an affair for the sake of self interest
376. Do not be shocked are taken aback by anything
377. Those who shamelessly fear the enemy will never read their mind
378. Those who cannot read the minds of the enemy are not shinobi soldiers
379. Have the strength to discard your own ideas
380. Know that when you fail it cannot be rectified
381. Understand the teaching of tobutori no kurai the dignity of flying birds
382. Understand timing and the allegory of harvesting fruit
383. Issue correct speech in times of danger
384. Understand the concept of Shinmyoken
385. Know how to kill people with speech
386. Know how to revive people without medicine
387. Know that those who master shinobi arts have no enemies in the world