Editing Ninjutsu (section)

==Legendary abilities==
Perceived control over the elements may be grounded in real tactics, which were categorized by association with forces of nature. For example, the practice of starting fires to cover a ninja's trail falls under ''katon-no-jutsu'' ("fire techniques").<ref name="Mol 2003 176" /> By dressing in identical clothing, a coordinated team of ninjas could instill the perception of a single assailant being in multiple locations.

[[File:Actor-as-nikki-danjo-kunisada-1857.jpg|thumb|upright|Actor portraying Nikki Danjō, a villain from the kabuki play ''Sendai Hagi''. Shown with hands in a ''[[kuji-in]]'' seal, which allows him to transform into a giant rat. Woodblock print on paper. [[Kunisada]], 1857.]]
The ninja's adaption of [[kite]]s in espionage and warfare is another subject of legends. Accounts exist of ninja being lifted into the air by kites, where they flew over hostile terrain and descended into, or dropped bombs on enemy territory.<ref name="draeger smith 1981 128" /> Kites were indeed used in Japanese warfare, but mostly for the purpose of sending messages and relaying signals.<ref name="Buckley 2002 257">{{Harvnb|Buckley|2002|p=257}}</ref> Turnbull suggests that kites lifting a man into midair might have been technically feasible, but states that the use of kites to form a human "[[Hang gliding|hang glider]]" falls squarely in the realm of fantasy.<ref name="Turnbull 2003 22 23">{{Harvnb|Turnbull|2003|pp=22–23}}</ref>

===Kuji-kiri===
''[[Kuji-kiri]]'' is an esoteric practice which, when performed with an array of hand "seals" (''[[kuji-in]]''), was meant to allow the ninja to enact superhuman feats.

The ''kuji'' ("nine characters") is a concept originating from [[Taoism]], where it was a string of nine words used in charms and incantations.<ref name="Waterhouse 1996 2 3">{{Harvnb|Waterhouse|1996|pp=2–3}}</ref> In China, this tradition mixed with [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] beliefs, assigning each of the nine words to a Buddhist deity. The ''kuji'' may have arrived in Japan via Buddhism,<ref name="Waterhouse 1996 8 11">{{Harvnb|Waterhouse|1996|pp=8–11}}</ref> where it flourished within [[Shugendō]].<ref name="Waterhouse 1996 13">{{Harvnb|Waterhouse|1996|p=13}}</ref> Here too, each word in the ''kuji'' was associated with Buddhist deities, animals from Taoist mythology, and later, Shinto [[kami]].<ref name="Waterhouse 1996 24 27">{{Harvnb|Waterhouse|1996|pp=24–27}}</ref> The ''[[Mudra|mudrā]]'', a series of hand symbols representing different Buddhas, was applied to the ''kuji'' by Buddhists, possibly through the esoteric ''[[Mikkyō]]'' teachings.<ref name="Waterhouse 1996 24 25">{{Harvnb|Waterhouse|1996|pp=24–25}}</ref> The ''[[yamabushi]]'' ascetics of Shugendō adopted this practice, using the hand gestures in spiritual, healing, and [[exorcism]] rituals.<ref name="Teeuwen Rambelli 2002 327">{{Harvnb|Teeuwen|Rambelli|2002|p=327}}</ref> Later, the use of ''kuji'' passed onto certain ''[[Budō#Bujutsu|bujutsu]]'' (martial arts) and ''ninjutsu'' schools, where it was said to have many purposes.<ref name="Waterhouse 1996 31 33">{{Harvnb|Waterhouse|1996|pp=31–33}}</ref> The application of ''kuji'' to produce a desired effect was called "cutting" (''kiri'') the ''kuji''. Intended effects range from physical and mental concentration, to more incredible claims about rendering an opponent immobile, or even the casting of magical spells.<ref name="Adams 1970 29">{{Harvnb|Adams|1970|p=29}}; {{Harvnb|Waterhouse|1996|p=31}}</ref> These legends were captured in popular culture, which interpreted the ''kuji-kiri'' as a precursor to magical acts.