In pop culture, ninjas tend to be portrayed as sword-wielding, shuriken-throwing, black-clad warriors. In actuality, ninjas favored knives over swords as they were easier to conceal. They did throw shurikens, but the stars were used as a distraction more often than they were used as weapons. And despite popular belief, ninjas wore dark blue—not black. Of course, the gap between the historical accuracy of ninjas and their modern portrayal can all be written off as artistic license. However, even on the rare occasions when they are accurately portrayed, there are a number of ninja tools and weapons that never seem to get airtime.
在大众理念中，忍者倾向于被塑造为带着佩剑、投出飞镖、一袭黑衣的勇士。事实上，忍者们更喜欢容易隐蔽的匕首而不是剑。他们确实会投掷飞镖，但星形镖更多是为了分散敌人注意力而不是作为武器发射。并且尽管大众们相信他们穿着黑色装束，而实际他们更喜欢深蓝色。当然，历史上真正的忍者们与现代文章中塑造出的形象具有一定差距。然而，即便有很少的机会能够真正描绘出忍者们的形象，仍有很多忍者使用的工具和武器似乎从未在电影或电视中展示过。
1、Cat's Eyes
猫眼
Just like modern special forces and intelligences agents, timing was very important to ninjas. Although they didn't have the stopwatches that we have today, they had something just as good—and definitely more creative.
就像现代的特种部队和特工一样，对于忍者把握时间非常重要。虽然他们没有现在的秒表，但他们拥有精妙并更具创造性的工具。
Ninja's were trained in nekome-jutsu, which was the ability to tell time just by looking at a cat's eye very closely. Cats have very sensitive eyes, and their pupils adjust to the changing light throughout the day. In early morning, a cat's pupils are round and fully open to allow in as much light as possible. Between around 8:00 AM and noon, their pupils become more oval-shaped to block out the excess light as the Sun rises higher. A cat's pupils are narrowest at noon when the Sun is at its peak. With this knowledge, ninjas were able to accurately guess to within the hour what time it was. Whether they carried the cats around on their wrists, however, remains a mystery.
忍者们在nekome-jutsu接受训练，学习通过密切观察猫的眼睛判断时间的能力。猫的视觉非常敏感，并且他们的瞳孔大小在一天之中随着光线变化进行调整。清晨早些时候，猫的瞳孔成圆形，并且完全睁开以尽可能的收集光线。上午8点到中午之间，瞳孔变成椭圆，以阻挡随着太阳升起释放的过多强光。到了中午，日照达到顶峰时，猫的瞳孔则会变得最小。熟悉了这些知识，忍者们判断时间的准确度能够在一小时之内。然而，他们是否会将猫带在左右仍是未解之谜。
2、Mizu-gomo
水云
In the old days, whether in Asia or Europe, the best way to protect a fortress was a moat. Since most of a ninja's targets tended to be upper class, this was an obstacle they faced regularly. Most movies handle this by showing the silent warriors leaping across the moat in a single flip or running across the water. In reality, ninjas used a tool called a mizu-gumo, which translates to "water spider."The device was made of four curved planks of either wood or inflatable animal hide that were strung together with a fifth plank in the middle. To this day, historians are not completely sure how mizu-gumo were used. The obvious guess is that the fifth plank was worn on the foot and, with another one on the other foot, allowed the ninja to walk on water. Unfortunately, as Biblical as that sounds, such methods have been disproved. Another theory is that it was used as a raft, which is more plausible. Most likely, the mizu-gumo was used more for wading through swampy marshes than to stay afloat on top of the water
过去,无论是在亚洲还是欧洲,最好的保护城堡的方法是修建护城河。因为大多数忍者的目标往往是上层阶级,护城河是他们面临的障碍。电影中，通常是这些安静的武士们一个空翻就过了护城河或者直接踏水而过。在现实中,忍者通常使用工具是水云,也就是“水蜘蛛“。这种装置由五个弯曲的支架构成，支架由木头或者是可充气的兽皮制成，其中四个支架被位于中间的第五个支架绑在一起。直到今天,历史学家并不完全确定水云如何使用的。人们的猜测是忍者将第五个支架戴在脚上,这样忍者便可以在水上行走。但是这种理论被证明是不可行的。另一个理论是,这是运用了筏的原理，这种理论更加的可信。最有可能的是，这种设备是用来帮助忍者渡过沼泽地，而非渡过水面。
3、Saoto Hikigane
助听筒
As spies, it was vital that ninjas had good hearing. Sometimes they were just hired to learn information. Other times, they listened to the guards making their rounds to learn their schedules. Bottom line: Eavesdropping was a large part of the ninja job description. To aid in that endeavor, ninjas used a listening tool called a saoto hikigane.It's been nicknamed the “ear trumpet” because that's exactly what it looks like. Saoto hikigane were cone-shaped and were made of metal or sometimes wood. The size of the tool varied, with some being more concealable than others. The ninja would place the wide end to a wall so that the sound coming through was magnified and funneled into his or her ear. It worked the same way cupping our hand to our ear or placing a cup to a wall does.
作为间谍，忍者们至关重要的是要拥有好的听力。有时他们只是受雇于收集情报。另外的时候，他们需要听到守卫们的声音以确定守卫的计划安排。最根本的是窃听占忍者们工作的很大部分。忍者们利用一种名为助听筒的工具来提供帮助。这种工具的绰号为“喇叭耳”，因为其的确像喇叭。助听筒做成圆锥形状，采用金属材料制作，有时也用木材。助听筒的大小各异，有些比其他的更便于隐藏。忍者将大口的一侧压到墙壁上，以便于放大墙壁另一侧的声音，使忍者能够听清。这与我们把手握成杯状或将一只茶杯放到墙壁上帮助听声一个道理。
4、Donohi
小火炉
Ninjas were expert fighters, but even they couldn't fight chilly temperatures without a little help. Ninjas often used body warmers named donohi to survive long stakeouts in cold weather. The body warmers were commonly made of bamboo, iron, or copper. They contained flammable materials such as gunpowder, alcohol, and cloth. A fire-starting tool called a tsuketake was usually attached to the donohi to set the fuel ablaze. Once lit, the fuel could burn for hours, even days.Since so much of a ninja's job involved using their hands, the last thing they wanted was for their fingers to go numb from the cold or for them to get frostbitten. Donohi were very useful in protecting them from such dangers. Also, as a fast and portable source of fire, it could be used for anything from setting an enemy's home on fire to cooking food. It was a cigarette lighter: ninja style.
忍者是格斗专家，但即使是这样，在缺乏支援条件下他们也不可能在极低的气温下战斗。忍者通常会使用一种名为小火炉的暖身器，以增强长时间处于寒冷气候中的生存能力。暖身器通常用竹子、铁或铜制作。里面有一些可燃材料，例如：火药、酒精或棉布。通常还要附带有名为火石的生火工具，便于忍者们点燃燃料。一旦点燃，这些燃料能够烧上几个小时，甚至几天。由于很多忍者的工作需要动手完成，他们最不希望的便是严寒中手指被冻得麻木或是生了冻疮。小火炉令他们避免了这些威胁。同时，作为便携式火源，小火炉还能被用于各个方面，从防火烧敌人的房子到加热食物。图中便是一个忍者风格的点火器。
5、Kanzashi
簪子
It is well documented that ninjas could turn just about anything into a weapon. Of course, having something long and sharp hidden in their hair didn't hurt, either. Enter the kanzashi. In feudal Japan, women often wore long, ornamental hairpins called kanzashi. The pins were not dangerous in and of themselves, but in the hands of a ninja, they could be used to attack vital points and nerve clusters. They could also be sharpened and used as knife-like weapons, either for defense or for an attack. Dipped in poison, the hairpins became an assassination tool.Kanzashi were ideal weapons for kunoichi (female ninjas), who favored small weapons that could be concealed in plain sight. Due to the popularity of the hairpins among women, kunoichi could carry them without anyone giving them a second look. This is proof that even a ninja's fashion accessories are dangerous.
有很多记录都显示忍者能够利用任何东西作为武器。当然，将有些长的并且尖锐的东西插在头发中，即插个簪子也并不会使自己受伤。封建时候的日本，妇女们总会佩戴长的装饰用的名为簪子的发针。发针从头发上插进插出并不会伤到自己。但在忍者手中，簪子便能用来攻击敌人的致命点和神经积聚部位。簪子还能够被磨尖并且成为刀子一样的武器，或是防卫或是进攻。沾上毒药，簪子还成为暗杀工具。簪子尤其是女忍者的理想武器，他们喜欢小巧的装备能够在平常装束中隐藏。由于发针在妇女中使用较为普遍，簪子的恐怖足以令任何人不会再第二次见到它。这就验证了即使忍者的装扮用品也非常危险。
6、Pencil Cases
笔匣
It's said that the pen is mightier than the sword. Usually, that isn't meant to be taken literally—but in the hands of a ninja, a pen could be outright fatal. Ninjas tried not to go anywhere without a yatate. This was a small cylinder that was sometimes made from bamboo, although they were usually made out of metal. At one end was a small container to hold ink, while the rest of the cylinder was hollow to hold a small calligraphy brush.Its use as a weapon aside, it is important to again remember that ninjas were spies. Yatate were vital to their ability to write down their observations of their targets and record information as they gathered it. In an attack, however, ninjas were able to conceal spikes, needles, and even poison in the yatate instead of a writing brush. Like the kanzashi, no one had reason to be suspicious of pencil cases that most people carried anyway.
古语说笔比剑更危险。通常这只是字面上的意思，但在忍者手中，笔可能完全具有致命性。忍者走到哪里都带着一种笔。这是一个的小圆柱形状物品，通常用金属制作，有时也用到竹子。笔一端有一个小空腔承装墨水，其余部分是空心的，装着一个小的笔刷。不要忘了忍者还是间谍，笔除了用作武器， 对于间谍也是很重要的。至关重要的是这种笔能够记录下来目标们的一举一动。然而，在实施攻击时，忍者能够将长钉、针甚至是毒药代替笔刷藏在匣中。像簪子一样，没有人会怀疑人们携带的笔匣会成为致命武器。
7、Neko-te
猫爪
Ninjas were tough as nails, so it comes as no surprise that even their fingernails would be weaponized. Metal fingernails called neko-te were a favorite among female ninjas. The nails were attached to the fingers in numerous ways. Sometimes, they were molded in a way similar to a thimble. Other times, they were attached by a band around the fingertips like a ring. The nails themselves were usually made of iron, but in a pinch ninjas would use thin pieces of bamboo. Even old hairpins and jewelry could be fashioned into razor-sharp nails.The weapon's name was inspired by the claw-like appearance of a cap being worn on each finger. “Neko” means “cat” in Japanese, and “te” translates to “hand.” It is important to note that this weapon was used exclusively by female ninjas. Kunoichi training stressed the use of lightweight and easily concealable weapons.
忍者们都要像钉子一样坚韧，所以甚至是指甲钉用来当武器也并不称奇。女忍者们喜欢一种名为猫爪的金属指甲钉。这种指甲钉安装在手指上有很多方法。有时可以用模具像指箍一样固定在手指上。有时可以用一根带子像指环一样缠绕在手指头上。指甲钉本身通常用铁打造，但必要时忍者们也会用细竹签制作。甚至尖锐的指甲钉还可以包装成古老的时尚发针和首饰。这件武器的名字受到猫爪的启发，佩戴在每个手指上。“Neko”在日语中代表“猫”的意思，而“te”则是指“爪子”。必须要注意的是，这种武器专属于女忍者。女忍者们的训练强调使用轻质和便于隐藏的武器。
8、Crickets
蟋蟀
Ninjas were masters of stealth and were trained to be able to approach enemies silently. However, there were times when a completely silent approach was impossible even for ninjas. Walking silently through a forest of dead leaves or crunchy snow was no easy feat. Even just stepping on a twig could reveal one's position and ruin an entire mission. For such occasions, ninjas often carried a small box or jar of crickets. The chirping of the insects disguised any stray sound the ninjas made.Ninjas had a special mixture of chemicals to make sure the crickets chirped when they needed them to. It also made sure they didn't chirp when the ninja needed silence. Given how common the sound of crickets chirping is, enemies had no reason for suspicion. As a matter of fact, the opposite was usually the case—insects and birds often stop chirping when a human or other predator is near. Even if they moved silently, ninjas carried crickets to keep the silence of nearby animals from announcing their presence.
忍者们是潜行大师，并且训练能够悄悄的接近敌人。然而，很多时候即使是忍者要想完全安静的接近敌手也是很难。想悄悄的穿过充满落叶的树林或布满积雪地面都并非易事。甚至只要踩上树叶也会暴露自己的位置，从而毁了整个任务。在这种情况下，忍者们通常会携带一小盒蟋蟀。蟋蟀的叫声会掩盖忍者们制造的所有声音。忍者还使用一种特殊的化学物质，确保需要时蟋蟀能够鸣叫。并且需要安静时，蟋蟀不会发出声音。蟋蟀的叫声很常见，因此敌人们不会产生怀疑。事实上，通常的情况正相反，当有人或其他捕食者接近时，鸟类和昆虫总会停止鸣叫。即使忍者们悄悄行动，他们携带蟋蟀也要避免干扰左近的动物暴露自己的行踪。
9、Eggshells
蛋壳
As stealthy as they were, this was not the main reason ninjas were known for invisibility—it was because they used a wide array of blinding powders. Ninja were resourceful, never making anything that they could find ready-made. Therefore, their favorite containers for blinding powders were eggshells. Ninjas would use a needle to poke a hole in an eggshell without breaking it, then drain it contents. Once the eggshell was empty, ninjas would fill it with things such as iron filings, salt, powdered peppers, and so on. Anything that could bring tears to an average person's eyes was potentially an ingredient. In battle, ninjas would smash the loaded eggs in their opponent's eyes, blinding them.The eyes weren't the ninjas' only targets—they also made sure to include substances that were sure to irritate the nose and respiratory system. Even if their opponent was only weakened for a moment, it gave the ninja the advantage and more than enough time to either press forward with an even stronger attack or escape easily.
尽管他们悄悄行动，但这并非众所周知的忍者会隐形的主要原因，因为他们还会利用各种致盲粉。忍者们足智多谋，从不会使用现成的东西。因此，他们喜欢用蛋壳来承装致盲粉。忍者们用针在蛋壳上戳个小洞，而不打碎蛋壳，然后将里面的蛋黄蛋清倒出来。倒空以后，忍者再装进去铁粉、盐、花椒粉等。只要是能令一般敌手流泪的东西都是忍者们要用到的。战斗时，忍者会把蛋壳拍碎，打到敌人的眼睛上，令他们目不视物。眼睛并非唯一目标，忍者们还会使用一些刺激鼻子或呼吸系统的物质。只要对手们稍稍停顿一会，这就给了忍者们足够的时间进一步实施打击或轻松逃离。
10、Rice
米
That's right—rice. Leave it to ninjas to turn dinner into a top-secret tool. As spies and assassins for hire, the most important part of a ninja's job was secretly passing along information. Their best method for doing this was goshiki-mai, which means five-colored rice. The rice was painted red, blue, yellow, black, or purple and used to send codes. Ninjas would drop the rice by the side of the road or any other inconspicuous place. Their enemies and other regular people wouldn't notice the rice, but ninjas from the same clan would be on the lookout for such things. Based on the combination of colors they dropped or the number of grains, the ninjas could make over 100 different codes.Not only was goshiki-mai a genius spy tool, it was safe from birds, too. The paint kept the birds from mistaking the grains from seeds and eating them.
对了，就是米，令忍者们将食物变成一种最重要的秘密工具。作为间谍或刺客，忍者们最终腰带工作是秘密的传递情报。他们最好的办法是利用五色米。米被染成红色、蓝色、黄色、黑色和紫色，用来发送信号。忍者们会将米撒在路旁或其他不引人注意的地方。敌人和其他普通人不会注意到，但忍者的同伴们会留意这些。根据颜色的组合或米的多少，忍者们可以创造出100多种不同的暗号。五色米不仅是真正的间谍工具，而且还能防备鸟类。染色不会令鸟类将米与其他谷种混淆，把米吃掉。
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