Both the ninja and the samurai were warriors in pre-industrialised Japan. They both served their masters/clients. However, their tasks and ways of working were different. While the samurai were a class of respected and educated warriors, the ninja, who mostly came from the lower classes, operated more in secret. This is where their name "ninja" comes from, which translates as "hidden one". However, it was not impossible for a samurai to also act as a ninja. The most famous ninja samurai was Hattori Hanzo.
The social status
The biggest difference between the ninja and the samurai lay in their social standing and prestige. The samurai were a separate social class of the elite class. They were generally held in higher esteem than all other warriors and militia in Japan. In order to live up to this status and prestige and to express their loyalty to their master, usually a high-ranking member of the government, the samurai submitted to the Bushido code of honour. Ninja, on the other hand, were simple mercenaries who could come from any social class. They were not regarded as elite fighters like the samurai, but as underclass fighters who could be recruited by anyone for the quiet fulfilment of missions.
The different fighting styles & weapons
Both the ninja and the samurai were masters of their weapons and well trained in fighting. In addition to their swords, the samurai mainly used spears, bows and arrows for fighting. They were particularly skilled in the use of these weapons. Their fighting style can be described as fast and effective. They were masters in man-to-man combat and were also very good with other weapons.
Ninja, on the other hand, use a different fighting style. They are regarded as masters of espionage, but also as saboteurs and assassins. As a rule, they did not engage in man-to-man combat. They carried out their missions in secret and were better known for sneaking up on someone and assassinating them rather than challenging them to a duel. To fulfil their missions, they used a wide range of weapons, one well-known example being the famous ninja throwing star. Of course, they also used swords. Our article Ninja swords vs. samurai swords explains the differences to the samurai swords. However, much about the weapons of the ninja has only been passed down orally and there are few reliable historical sources.
Your clothing in battle
Due to their different missions and social statuses, ninja and samurai used different clothing. Samurai tended to wear armour to protect themselves in battle and often wore a magnificent helmet.
As a ninja worked in secret, his outfit was less conspicuous. He often camouflaged himself through his clothing. For example, he would be difficult to spot at night if he was dressed in black. Armour would only unnecessarily restrict a ninja's ability to move.
Ninja & Samurai: The conclusion
Although both samurai and ninja were warriors, they differed in some respects. Samurai were highly respected, ninja less so, in keeping with their status. Their fighting styles were also different: the samurai fought in public and often in single combat, while the ninja worked undercover. This was also reflected in their different clothing. Samurai wore armour, ninja dressed inconspicuously.
Many samurai showed no respect for the ninja, as they were often recruited from the lower social classes. However, samurai and ninja were not complete enemies, as shown in some films. Samurai could act as ninja at the same time, as explained at the beginning. Samurai were a social class, while ninja could be described more as a "professional group".
