To remedy this trouble, chant the following poem and then dig up and recover the buried items:
逢坂ヤ八坂坂中鯖一差行基ニクレテ駒ハイサナン
Osaka ya Yasaka Sakanaka Saba Hitosashi Gyoki ni kurete Koma wa Isanan
In the middle of Osaka or Yasaka hill, give Gyoki a bundle of mackerel and the horse will become spirited
At this the horse will immediately recover.
村雨明松
Murasame Taimatsu
The rain shower torch
♦ “Flower” 花 – 10 momme
♦ Sho (camphor) – 7 momme
♦ Pine [resin] – 10 momme 5 bu
Murasame Taimatsu—this is a rainproof torch. “Flower” here means the Japanese anise tree. Soak this wood in water for one hundred days before you powder it. “Pine” means pine saturated in resin, but I would say that this is simply resin?* “Sho” is camphor. Finely powder the above three and put the mixture into a paper bag and then wrap it in six or seven layers of paper—this is done so that the fire will not be extinguished.
打明松
Uchitaimatsu
The attack torch
♦ Camphor – 10 momme
♦ Saltpeter – 9 momme
♦ Sulphur – 3 momme
♦ “Flower” 花– 10 Momme
Uchi Taimatsu – Camphor 10 momme, saltpeter 9 momme, sulphur 3 momme, “flower” [as described in the previous tool] 10 momme soaked in water for 100 days; also, include pine, resin 9 momme 1 bu. Prepare this in the same manner as the above Murasame taimatsu torch. If you insert [horseshoe shaped] needles in a cross form and throw it, it will come to land correctly and burn well.
タ〃ミ橋
Tatamibashi
Folding ladder*
The Tatamibashi is used when crossing over a moat and the like. It should be construed so that it can be folded, making it less cumbersome. Place hinges so that it can be extended and have metal latches with tsuku [forked shaped fasteners in place]. Attach a thin rope to the end which has a three pronged grapple tied to it and use it to ascend.
鋸
Nokogiri
Saw
Nokogiri are multi-purpose and there are many points within oral tradition.
錐
Kiri
Drill
第二之巻
Dai ni no maki
Part Two
露之印
Tsuyu no In
Mudra of Dewdrops*
This is used with muskets.
Tsuyu no in is a musket without a bullet and has the purpose of catching an enemy alive. First insert gunpowder and then add a good amount of ash on top of that. Shoot with careful timing so that the enemy will be blinded and disoriented.†
明破‡
Meiha
Gate breaking
This has three bullets.
Monyaburi—[this works] the same as a fuse burns with saltpeter. Make the bullets and insert the fuse through these three bullets while positioning gunpowder between the balls. Firmly wrap the bamboo cylinder and secure the outside with bamboo rings, like in the construction of a bucket. Place the above balls inside. When in a position close to the enemy, ignite the fuse from behind the cylinder so that they are expelled with a blast, one by one. This is also called rendama deppo—“successive musket bullets.”
城エ入事
Shiroe Iru Koto
Infiltrating castles
♦ Crossing steep areas
♦ Concerning shinobi-gaeshi—“spiked defenses”
♦ Moving into the horse stables
These images were placed in the original scroll as memory hooks; one image is of a sword and the other is a basic image of shinobi-gaeshi (“defensive spikes”).
Shiroe iru koto means to infiltrate an enemy castle. Enter through the rubbish shute, or, alternatively, cross over the shinobi-gaeshi (“defensive spikes”). If you are going to cross over a wall, take advantage of these places. When inside the castle move into the stable—in this way you can know if the horses have been prepared, which will allow you to immediately confirm if a night raid is about to commence. When in the stable stay behind mounds of grass or straw—it is a transmitted teaching to stay in those places mentioned above.
Shinobi-gaeshi wo koshiyo is about shinobi-gaeshi that are on the top of an outer wall. Throw the sageo cord of your sword over the shinobi-gaeshi spikes, then hold on to the cord and cross over. Make sure to use the hilt of your sword as a foothold.
源氏入黒*
Genji no Irezumi
The tattoo of the Genji Clan
Use the oil of Namomi—cocklebur
Genji no Irezumi is to take “oil of cocklebur” and apply it on to a cane or other such things so that when you strike with it, it will break through anything.†
矢打留様
Yauchi Tomeyo
To stop arrows striking
This is made of bamboo.
Using a large wheel made of bamboo is Yauchi tomeyo, this is like the wheel of a kinawa no hikiguruma—pulling cart. Put a hole at the hub of the “wheel” and insert a cane, then rotate the wheel so that using it will stop arrows.
咽乾ヌ薬
Nodo Kawakanu Kusuri
Thirst pills
♦ Unripe green plum which has been processed to become “frost plum”‡ – 1 [measurement]
♦ Toboshi—Unhulled mocha rice – 12 [measurements]
Powder equal amounts of the above and make pellets the size of soya beans [to keep thirst at bay]; take one pellet with some water.
Nodo no Kawakanu Kusuri—the ingredient “Toboshi” is taito mochi§ rice in its husk and you should take this every morning. It is advisable to take this before you go into combat.
中ノ大ヲ迯術
Naka no dai wo Nogaruru Jutsu
A skill to escape a crisis on your journey Bow three times in the direction you intend to travel. It is written [that you should use the following spell]:
武士ノ腰ニ差タル鍔刀事ノツマツキアラセ給ナ
Bushi no Koshi ni Sashitaru Tsuba Katana Koto no Tsumazuki Arase Tamona
May there be no failure or disaster [through or with my] hilt [and] katana that I wear as a bushi warrior
Naka no dai wo nogaruru koto—cut the kuji grid, cut to the left and the right.
人ノ宅エ入事
Hito no Yaka e Iru Koto
Infiltrating a person’s house
Remove both the eyes of a dog, be it still alive or dead. Then string them on the hair from a horse’s tail and apply a layer of mercury.* Next soak it in lacquer and dry in the shade for 100 days. Carry this in a crimson bag [when you infiltrate]. There are oral traditions to follow.
Hito no yaka e iru koto—This is the way in which a shinobi† protects himself from being detected by people. Move in with the crimson bag attached to your forehead. This will allow you to see an enemy clearly while the enemy cannot see you.
綱朽之事
Tsuna Kuchiru no Koto
Ruining rope
♦ Mica (Unmo)
♦ Mercury
♦ Oil of hanzaki—ray fish
Apply this mixture to rope and the rope will immediately decay.
Tsunakuchi no koto—This is a substance that rots through rope and rope-like things. The ingredient “unmo” is kirara-mica. Also the ingredient “oil of hasaka/hansaki” means “oil of the ray fish.”
夜物ノ躰ヲ知事
Yoru Mono no Tei wo Shiru Koto
Observing what something truly is during the night
The following has been recorded:
ヒトフタミヨイツムユナヽヤコヽノタリモヽチヨロツ*
Hito futa mi mi yo itsu muyu nana ya kokono tari momo chi yorozu
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1000, 10000
Chant the above three times and then put both hands together in prayer—there is something that needs to be done at this point [which is explained below]. Next,
move your hands into “diamond”† position and observe what is there by looking [through your hands].
Yoru mono no tei wo shiru koto is to know what something truly is at night. To put your hands together means gassho (“putting your hands together in prayer”). Then open out your palms to make a diamond shape—if you look through this gap then any excitement you have will calm down, allowing you to become more settled. When a person is settled then a proper understanding will follow, leading to a deeper judgment. Chant the poem in the text three times.
太刀落ス之事
Tachi Otosu no koto
Disempowering a tachi sword
♦ Collect 33 “Dairyo” spiders, put them in a cylinder, starve them until they die.‡
♦ The blood of a newt
♦ Fruit of the Shikunshi—Chinese honeysuckle
Mix the above together [and apply it to your hands]—in this way your hands will not be cut. This is also called Shiraha Dori—“to receive a blade with the hands.”
Tachi otoshi no koto—“shikunshi” is an ingredient used in medicine and can also be called toronashi.
鬼ト見スル術
Oni to Misuru Jutsu
The art of becoming the demon
♦ Capture fireflies and toads on the seventh day of the seventh month.
♦ On the fifth day of the fifth month, extract “oil of the rat”* and harvest the liver of bats.
Make pills with this mixture and consume them, in this way you will make yourself look like a demon for the period of a night.
Oni to misuru jutsu is a way to help you and your mind avoid cowardice.
太刀燃ル術
Tachi Moyuru Jutsu
The skill of the “glowing” longsword†
Mix oil of cocklebur with water and apply it to [the sword].
Tachi moyuru jutsu is about applying a substance to your tachi sword. This makes the facing enemy think that your sword is “glowing”—the purpose of this is to take away their spirit. This is made from cocklebur.
門出之大事
Kadode no Daiji
The principle of departing through a gate
丑未戌辰分テ行ク何カシ神ノ子ナレハ方ハ嫌ハシ
Ushi hitsuji inu tatsu wakete iku nanigashi kami no ko nareba hou ha kirawaji
Choosing the direction of Ox, Ram, Dog, or Dragon, whichever god protects whichever direction—no direction should be shunned
Chant the above three times.
Next, draw the ideogram for “victory” 勝 in your left palm three times with your [right] finger and then close it into a fist. When you have journeyed two or three ken from the gate then open your palm again, saying:
サカキバニヱウトリシデヽ打佛ヒ道ニケカレヤ雲キリモナシ*
Sakakiba ni Yutori shide de uchiharai michini kegareya kumo kiri mo nashi
If you attach cotton shide† onto the branch of Cleyara japonica and use it for purification, there will be no impurity, no clouds and no mist in your way
Chant the above three times.
Kadode no daiji is to not look back behind you until you have ventured two or three ken, at which point open your clenched fist and lick your palm.
秘極之薬之事
Higoku no Kusuri no Koto
The deepest and most secret medicine
♦ Soak a large amount of the root of the Japanese rush (Acorus gramineus) in sake
♦ Gather a medium amount of the peel of a Satsuma (Citrus unshiu)
♦ Soak a medium amount of Sapium japonicum in water
♦ A medium amount of fire-roasted Asiatic ginseng
Powder the above and make pills.
If you drink alcohol then make pills by using sake; if you are a non-drinker then use tea or water; and in war [make pills] by using the stickiness of rice broth.
The above medicine should be used in battle or any other important situation. In addition to this it works for all diseases, especially as a restorative or as a stimulant.
Higoku no kusuri—sekishobu from the text means daisegishobu—greater sekishobu.
第三之巻
Dai san no maki
Part Three
息ノキレヌ薬̶人*
Iki no Kirenu Kusuri—Hito
Medicine for shortness of breath—person
Iki no kirenu kusuri is to apply “oil of human” or “oil of toad” to your lips; alternatively you can hold toad skin in your mouth.
夜物音ヲ聞事̶風
Yoru Monooto wo Kiku Koto—Kaze
Listening to sounds at night—wind
Yoru monooto wo kiku koto is to listen by crouching downwind. It is difficult to hear from a windward position.
忍入時之事̶八
Shinobi Iru Toki no Koto—Yatsu
Times to infiltrate—eight
Shinobi iru toki no koto is done in the eighth hour of the night† as people will sleep deeply at this time. During the day the eighth hour‡ is when meals are served and is a period of quiet—therefore infiltrate at the eighth hour.
Also for the above—infiltration can be done during the hour of the animal sign of the year that the [enemy] lord-commander was born. The hour of the sign of the year that the lord-commander was born has an element of the insubstantial and therefore, if the enemy lord-commander was born in the year of the Rat then infiltrate at the hour of the Rat.
敵之心騒セ申事̶夢
Teki no Koto no Sawagase Mosu Koto—Yume
Disturbing the mind of the enemy—dreams
Teki no koto no sawagase mosu koto is to use the skill of musotoshi (“transmitting dreams”) and to have the enemy lord-commander dream of difficulty. Alternatively this can be to write [on the spell-paper] that a certain retainer of the enemy is in secret communication with the allied side; this will appear to the enemy lord-commander in a dream.
忍ニアハヌ薬̶生 [姜]
Shinobi ni Awanu Kusuri—Shoga
Medicine to protect yourself from other shinobi—Ginger
This can be used for all things.
Shinobi ni awanu kusuri—grate ginger, spread it thinly into a one sun square on paper and put it with thin glue tightly onto your hori—belly button.* This is a medicine to prevent sleep and it can be used to work against coldness and heat—have no doubts about this, for it is a great and wondrous medicine.
行燈ノ火カクス事
Andon no Hi wo Kakusu Koto
Hiding the light of a lantern
Andon no hi kakusu koto—use tweezers or other such things and grip it so that the light does not show.
城内又ハ人ニ知ラレヌ書状書様 付タリ見様ノ事
Jonai Matawa Hito ni Shirarenu Shojo Kaki Yo
Details on how to write secret letters that are to be sent into an enemy castle and cannot be read by others
Supplementary to this: how to read them.
Jonai e okuru matawa hito ni shirarenu shojo kakiyo no koto—this skill is used when someone is detached from their allies [and correspondence with them is needed]. This [letter] should be written with ground soybeans or with the liquid used to strain teeth, or even with the juice of the Yuzu fruit. To read [such a letter] hold it over a fire or soak it in water. The liquid used to stain teeth cannot be seen unless it is soaked in water. I must state that to read the letters written with this tooth staining liquid you should coat the underside of the paper in ink; this is because the characters will not absorb the ink, making them clear to see.
[Untitled]
Use the ideogram for Cockerel 酉 seven times
The ideogram 酉 should be written on the left and right of your pillow at night.
The annotations state the point of using “cockerel seven times.” No matter what time [you wish to awaken] trace the ideogram 酉 seven times on each side of your pillow while praying and asking to be “startled” at the exact time you wish—then you may sleep. The ideogram hiyomi no tori 酉 means cockerel, this is because the cockerel wi
ll inform you of the time. This is a magical ritual.
Use a toothpick made from the Sakaki cleyera japonica plant and use torimichi ni kaku to write on the road [where people] walk.
The annotations state: 通道二書* torimichi ni kaku means “to write on the passing road.” To do this, have a manushi snake “bite a new ink stone” and write with that ink, by doing this anything that you write will come to pass. Do this by capturing a live manushi and securing it, open the mouth and have it “bite” a new ink stone. Then put [the ink stone] into a pot jar and close it with a lid and bury it under a road where people walk for seven days. Finally take it out and write anything you wish with this ink—your wish will come true.†
水練之事
Suiren no Koto
Aquatic training‡
The measurement is 1 shaku 4 sun
Suiren no koto is a way to stay underwater as long as you like without taking a breath. Make [a device] that is 1 shaku [4 sun] that is made of leather coated with tung oil. Make a mouthpiece of deer horn like a gunpowder flask used for muskets, so that you can hold it in your mouth. The tip of the mouthpiece should be made of copper. Make [a mouth seal] of toad skin to protect against water on the both sides and put a ball of lead in the bag.
Labels from left to right:
1. Toad skin
2. The ball inside
3. Deer horn here
鹿ノ一足
Shika no Hitoashi
The leg of the deer
♦ Arsenic – 10 momme—collect this from a silver mine
♦ Young Japanese five-lined skink (Eumeces latiscutatus) – 2 momme dried in the shade
♦ Sheep Bot flies* – 2 momme charred
♦ Root of the Japanese butterbur – 3 momme powdered and raw
♦ Komyoshu cinnabar† – five momme
The above should be kept in thin paper.
Shika no hitoashi—powder the five ingredients above. Make a paper bag like a tea bag and put the mixture in it. Carry the bag holding it in a folded tissue paper. If you sprinkle it onto the enemy, the enemy will suffer hardship, becoming disoriented, or they may even die. Take precaution not to get it on yourself. The drawing above shows what the tissue paper should be like.
Samurai and Ninja: The Real Story Behind the Japanese Warrior Myth That Shatters the Bushido Mystique Page 20