"Ninja colours" Topic

Hi all,

I asked the AI site Chat GPT about this as a test question.

What coloured costumes did Ninja wear in the 16th century?.in seconds it said:

'The depiction of ninjas wearing all-black outfits is a popular but largely fictionalized concept that originated from theater and modern media. Historically, ninja attire was more practical and based on the need for stealth and blending into various environments. Here are the colors and types of clothing ninjas would typically wear:

Historical Ninja Attire
Dark Colors:

Dark Blue (Navy): This was a common choice as it blends well with shadows, especially under moonlight.
Dark Brown: Effective for blending into natural environments like forests and fields.
Dark Gray: Useful for urban environments or rocky terrains.
Earth Tones:

Brown: Various shades of brown for woodland and rural areas.
Green: Dull greens for forested areas.
Tan: For dry, grassy areas or sandy environments.
Civilian Clothing:

Common Clothes: To avoid suspicion, ninjas would often wear everyday clothing suitable for peasants, merchants, or monks, allowing them to blend in with the general population.
Disguises: Depending on their mission, ninjas might also dress as samurai, farmers, or any other role that would allow them to move unnoticed.
Practical Considerations
Materials: Clothes were typically made from natural fibers like cotton or hemp, chosen for their durability and ease of movement.
Layering: Clothing would be layered for warmth and to carry tools and weapons discreetly.
Footwear: Tabi (split-toe socks) and waraji (straw sandals) or jika-tabi (rubber-soled tabi boots) for silent movement.
Summary of Colors
Dark Blue (Navy)
Dark Brown
Dark Gray
Various Earth Tones (Brown, Green, Tan)
Common Civilian Colors (appropriate for the chosen disguise)
When painting ninja miniatures, it's beneficial to use these colors to reflect their practical and varied attire, ensuring they are represented in a historically accurate manner while maintaining the stealthy, covert aesthetic that ninjas are known for.'

Do you agree? A Stephen Turnbull book suggested they used black at night and Khaki brown in the daytime!

Interesting. I have no way of ascertaining the truth here.

I would not trust assertions of historical fact from an AI which gains all of its "knowledge" from glorified Internet searches.

On the other hand, the bit about navy at least justifies the blue Batman cape and cowl…

Well, I am crushed! The only ninjas I have are in my lizardman/swamp army. Due to the movie association of ninjas with black, I painted mine to match the salamander we found in the basement shower: black with pinkish spots. Woe! Woe! For my lizardman army to become historically correct I have to repaint the ninjas!

Grelber

How would anyone know what colors they were, since once you see them, it's too late!

Ha, I am going with Dr Turnbull's guidance, as I know he went to the Iga-ryu Ninja Museum in Iya Prefecture for his information. Even he in his book 'Samurai' said that Ninja lore is full of supposition and guesswork, so I doubt anyone can say you are wrong, however you paint them…!

This is a picture from that museum.

I asked Chat GTP where it got its information from, and it said:

'I'm glad you found the information useful! When researching the colors traditionally worn by ninjas, I consulted various reputable sources, including historical texts, academic articles, and cultural studies on Japanese history and folklore. Here are some of the types of sources I looked at:

Historical Documents and Texts: Sources like the "Bansenshukai" (a 17th-century ninja manual) and other classical Japanese literature that provide insights into the practices and attire of ninjas.

Academic Journals and Books: Scholarly works on Japanese history, samurai culture, and ninja folklore, such as those published by historians specializing in Japanese martial arts and feudal Japan.

Cultural Analyses and Interpretations: Books and articles by cultural historians and anthropologists that explore the mythology and symbolism associated with ninjas in Japanese culture.

Reputable Websites and Online Encyclopedias: Reliable websites and digital encyclopedias that offer well-researched articles on ninjas, often compiled by experts in the field.

If you have any specific source you'd like to verify or need further details about a particular aspect of the information, feel free to let me know!

To paraphrase Henry Ford: You can have any color you want, as long as it's black.

I go with a lot of indigo blue, which was the most common colour fabric in Japan for everyday wear.

As to Turnbull, for ascertaining the 'truth' of any of his stuff — roll a D10 and don't roll a 1!
: 3

I think Stryderg and Zulupaul share the win, here.

Ninja present an opportunity for creative painting. You can justify many color choices based on practicality and effectiveness.

I should mention my 1:72 Airfix Robin Hood archer that I painted as a ninja in dark blues and black in the 1970s, when medieval Japanese figures were not easy to find (at least for me). He came out pretty well. Even the English longbow passes for yumi at that scale.