ninjas, samurias, or shaolin monks?

[metalwinds]

what do you think is cooler: ninjas, samurias, or shaolin monks? i am taking a poll for an illustration class i have and the poll results will eventually lead to a piece, so your responses would be greatly appreciated.

peace

[DragonGX]

I prefer french maids.

[ChaosEidolon]

one vote for ninja

[N D Hill]

ninjas are totally sweet.

[Payback]

Samurai powah!

[Fipse]

I´m with DragonGX!

Otherwise I think Ninjas are boring - you´ve got more possibilities with the Samurai (or in my cas I would prefer a Sulsa- or Hwarang-Warrior ;)).

Fipse

[Tamerlane]

French maids??? I prefer Sith lords.

Seeing that sith lords don't count then I choose Samurai.

[Dan.v.D.]

teh ronin

[geoffd]

form, function and discipline... i choose shaolin monks

http://starbulletin.com/2002/04/04/features/arta.jpg

amazing. and besides, what about shaolin soccer!?

[sone_one]

i prefer shaolin monks too.... theyre tough, ...and ....well... not that overdone i think

[Fipse]

I hope Bengal doesn´t mind ...

http://www.cafesale.net/bengal/gallery/couleur/maidpeluche.jpg

Beware the power of the french maids ...

Fipse
(and I hope metalwinds doesn´t mind, too ;))

[N D Hill]

Ninja's represent the lowest social class as they do not adhere to traditions and authorities estabolished by the mainstream Japanese fuedel system. They existed in secret societies and cults in the mountainous Iga and Koga regions of Japan and were very much isolationalists who were very secretive and protective of their communities which were usually close family groups. The term ninja, which literally means "Man of endurence" originally applied to anyone who rejected the traditional fuedel lifestyle or shinto beliefs. In order to protect themselves, they developed their own fighting styles and style sets, mostly centered around stealth and killing/disabling an enemy as quickly and efficiently as possible. They improvised weapons out of whatever they could find, such as farming/fishing tools or crafted cheaper weapons of their own devising. The stereotype of ninjas acting as brutal criminals and mercinaries isn't wrong so much as it is blown out of proportion. Ninjas sold themselves out as mercinaries usually to ensure that those they helped wouldn't target their clans. They also did so to subtly manipulate conflicts between two waring factions to their favor. Mostly their fighting skills were used in defense. Samurai considered Ninjas cowardly as they relied heavily on stealth and attacks that sumarai would consider unfair by the standards set by the bushido. Samurai of course lived by it to such an extent that they would rather die than stray from it.

There's your history lesson for the day.

[NaTe J]

Wow exo. u really know your stuff.

1 vote ninja

[Rusty Red Robot]

Ninja!

[Kortez]

shaolin all the way!

[cucaracha]

since ninjas could easily win against samurais and shaolin monks, I would prefer ninjas.

But samurais are very heroic and have nice clothing and armor.

And shaolin monks have the most impressive style and technique, their reputation is very nice, too.

I can't decide for one, they're all cool.

cu

[RONIN]

My humble ranking order ...

1 - Samurai
2 - Shaolin Monk
3 - Ninja

[LEN]

Exo's explination of ninjas is as wrong as it is incorrect, I know this since I've been studying ninjas for two whole weeks now.

Here's the real skinny on ninjas acording to http://www.realultimatepower.net/

Facts:

1) ninjas are mamals
2)ninjas fight ALL the time
3) the purpose of a ninja is to flip out and kill people

also the main enemy is not the so called "samuri elite" its pirtates - duh.

everyone knows that.

Also our so called ninja expert totally forgott to mention that Ninjas spend lots of time wailing on there guitars and porking hot babes. I mean - hello

any way if you want to know more about "REAL" ninjas go to:

http://www.realultimatepower.net/

Exo how can you live with your self and your ninja lies and half truths?

[ClocktowerArtworks]

this thread has taken a turn for the absurd...

...i choose Shaolin Monks.

ninjas are overdone...boring.

samurai are a close second to the shaolin. that's all.

[metalwinds]

id have to agree with you clocktower. please stop littering my thread with realultimatepower garbage.. .. i am referring to REAL ninjas, not the ones on that website. it is a serious question and i would like answers that are serious. i appreciate everyone that has given me good answers though

thanks

[Pencil Soldier]

I think it would depend on what you are trying to illustrate. A Sammy could symbolize honor, a Monk could symbolize disipline, a nija could be stealth, etc. It depends on what the assingment is, imo.

[metalwinds]

soldier - youre reading too much into it. all i am doing is taking results from this poll and illustrating it. all i am asking is which person you think is the coolest

peace

[LiL QoH]

samurai

[N D Hill]

here are some resources for information on the history of Fuedel Japan. I don't know much about china or the Shaolin system.

http://www.bushido.net/

A site that exists to promote ninjutsu and ninpo-taijutsu education.
http://www.winjutsu.com/

http://www.allblackbelt.com/links/ninja.html

The history of the ninja
http://shell.world-net.co.nz/~jimgould/ohistory.html

And finally, a usefull glossary of terminology
http://www.warriorquest.com/martialartsglossary.html

[LEN]

Metalwinds,

I apologize for my disrespect, my only intention was to share a web page that I personally find entertaining and by no means meant it as an insult.

In regards to your question of who is cooler, honestly It strikes me as an apples to oranges question.

really I think there all cool

Monks are celebrated in the west for thier fighting prowess accented with sound bites of diluted eastern wisdom. thou, what strikes me the most about what I think that I know about them is thier dedication to a spiritual life stlye and and rejection of materialism . Unfortunately , we focuses mainly on thier ability to fight

Ninjas strike me as mysterous, and mystery is always a good thing. The idea that they are the counter culture to the samuri elite is pretty exciting too- kind of like a rebel in pajamas.


Samuri are great because there so typclly tratgic since thier once mighty religion was replaced by the fire arm ( though they resisted to the near detrament of Japan -see "Guns Germs and Steel")

any way if I was to choose one a the coolest I would pick "Monks" for thier spiritual convictions.

And agian I apologize.

[metalwinds]

len - its all good man. i got that your response was a joke, what i was trying to avoid was getting a bunch of useless responses to the website you posted and the comments you made. i always get a kick out of that website anyway

peace

[siskol p]

personally i vote ninja

ninja not only are completely badass physically, but mentally they've got it all across the board, the whole prospect of going out into the town bar a couple of nights before your mission and spreading urban legends about how ninja are supposed to be able to walk through walls and paralyze a man with just his gaze etc. then using that "mass hysteria" to your advantage so that even when the most hardy palace guard or even samurai catches sight of you, all you have to do is look at him and he's already shaken to his core.

they're totally amazing and like most of us on here (probably) i've been all about 'em since i was like 7 and still am to this day...

good luck on your piece man, whatever it turns out to be...

[bluesliver]

I must vote for the Samurai.

Read Hagakure, its translated to english under the name "Bushido: Way of the Samurai". Get a glimpse on the essence of Bushido. Fantastic warrior culture, I cant resist it, and I must place it in front of the Ninjas and Monks.

[Tamerlane]

From my original response I prefer Smaurai from an artistic point of view, as their armour and way of dress are different. Unlike ninjas or shaolin monks who follow a pretty strict dress (uniform like) code.

http://www.mantisswords.com/helmets.htm

Try this site for pictures of Samurai components e.g. Armour, decoration, swords, helmets etc.

Hope that helps

[N D Hill]

actually ninjas wore whatever suited their immediate needs. The traditional shinobi shozuku came in many colored varieties from black to red to white and even cammo that matched fall leaves. They did wear armor on occasion but were usually too poor to buy their own. When they wanted to keep a low profile for daytime missions, they wore regular street clothes. According to author and japanese historian James clavell, ninjas also often had distinctive tatoos that were signs of their affiliations to their clans.

[endregan]

since ninjas are glorified kung fu artists i group them with monks really...

theyre just dirty assassins, more played out than should be.

samurais are cool and old school like knights...but you dont see them around too much

SHAOLIN MONKS

thats where its at :)

[N D Hill]

I think any modern practitioner of ninjutsu or ninpo-tajutsu (or bido-taijutsu) would be offended buy that comment. They were "dirty assassins" because that's what mainstream imperial documents said in the history books. The truth was that they ruetinely had to defend their communities deep in the mountain regions from Samurai raids. All because they didn't pay homage to the local dyamo or even yakuza (crime boss who employed samurai). They were always out numbered and limited in resources compared to the samurai who had the best swords, armor, horses and bows. Using stealth tactics and singling out individuals who are the biggest threats to your wives and children is quite fair and charitable when you consider the alternative.

[endregan]

i was talking more media orientated, not the actual ninjas. oh no of course not.

much respect to ninjas ;)

[davi]

samurai

i enjoy them because of their fashion and their high honor system.

Ninji kind of throw out all the honor and respect and get down and dirty... kind of cool and stealthy, but ruined by media. I'd like to see a god ninja style game similar to splinter cell though.

[GirafeEnFeu]

NINJAS:

They're so cool, they just flip out and cut people's heads of for no reason: now that's real ultimate power.

:dork:

[Scrubbin Bubbles]

you people are silly, gettin all offended n shite.

My vote goes to moderen yakuza... oh thats not an option? well then how about samurai cause they have bigger swords, and we all know size does matter.

For real, my vote goes to Samurai.

P.S. Anyone know anything about the Ikko-Ikki?