Wisdom from the Ninja Village of the Cold Moon

By Stephen K. Hayes

Book Overview

Ninja - the legendary shadow warriors of the night from a Japan of long ago, masters of espionage, stealth, and subterfuge - could they possibly still exist? This was the question that compelled Stephen Hayes to journey to Japan in search of the true answer so many years ago. He took the gamble of a lifetime. He left everything behind and embarked on a trek that would change his life forever. What knowledge would he find? What techniques still lived in the hearts of masters he might seek? What secrets to life still reverberated down through the centuries of hidden history?. Wisdom From The Ninja Village of the Cold Moon relates the secrets Hayes discovered in his years as an apprentice to the Togakure ninja grandmaster. In the form of an ancient maki-mono scroll, the author shares with you poetic renderings of lifetimes of growth and knowledge. Uncover the bright heart ways of the misunderstood, the condemned, the reviled from Japan's ancient history. Find brightness in the darkness they move through in service of a joyous peace. Absorb their teaching so that you may carry within you the strength of the ninja. Are you ready to join the family?

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1955342857
• ISBN13: 9781955342858
• Release Date: October 2025
• Publisher: Holon Publishing / Collective Press
• Length: 102 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Ninja Poet

in this great book Stephen K Hayes does such a breathtaking essay on Ninjitsu and especially ninja poetry!!! it is not just about Ninjutsu but poetry on Life in general,on the elements of nature and on how these cunning wizars/warriros /philosophers brought their art alive from medieval japan to today's industrial world! there is such beauty in the poetry of Stephen K hayes that one starts loving ninjas and forget the negative stereoptypes!!! nah!the Ninja is not darth Vader!!!on te contrary he is a poet,a man or woman dedicated to ecology!!!of living in accordance with Nature!!!a wild character but a good character!!! Buy this book!you'll change entirely on the Ninja!!!Don Draeger was wrong!!!in his book on Ninjutsu he copied old spy stories and fantasy but the true Ninja is here with Stephen K Hayes and Masaaki Hatsumi Sensei his teacher!!!

Philosophy of Ninpo Clear, Concise, in English!

A book of Ninpo Philosophy and poetry, liberally illustrated with photographs of Stephen and Rumiko Hayes, Hatsumi Masaaki, and numerous photographs in the Mikkyo Buddhist tradition and of Japanese architecture. Hayes says he has based this work on the cryptic "Makimono" (school transmission scrolls) of history. This is Hayes way of passing on the lore of ninpo to the rest of us. Well thought out, well written, and thankfully NOT cryptic or confusing. Nowadays, it is often difficult to talk about "ninja" without sounding cheesy. Hayes always manages to completely avoid all vestiges of cheesiness and pretentiousness. This is definately not some grade-schoolish effort to "sell ninjurs by the river". Stephen Hayes was one of the first Non-Japanese (and the first American) to study Togakure ninjutsu and the Bujinkan traditions under 34th generation Togakure-ryu Ninpo headmaster Hatsumi Matsaaki. He was the first American to be awarded the title "Shidoshi" by Hatsumi Sensei.

A Most Inspirational Book Offering Insight Into The Heart Of Ninpo.

Know that the heavens were created to descend into the five elemental manifestations. >> From the rocks and earth we learn stability. <br />>> From the water we learn flexibility. <br />>> From the fire we learn intensity. <br />>> From the air we learn acceptance. <br />>> From the ethereal heavens we learn understanding. <br /> <br />The benevolent warrior understands the true scope and priorities of warfare. <br /> <br />The ninja trains to hold an empty heart to lose the singularity of self and become a part of the scheme of totality where actions are simply actions and words merely words. <br /> <br />Such is the Wisdom From The Ninja Village Of The Cold Moon. Stephen K. Hayes has written a most inspirational book offering insight into the heart of Ninpo. Yet beyond poetry and inspiration Stephen K. Hayes reveals secrets of the ninja's art. <br /> <br />Nine throwing stars of steel pocketed over your heart. Blades borne on dark winds raining from the ninja's hand ~ The steel extension of your very life force shoots forth to stun those who stalk you in the darkness. <br /> <br />Wisdom From The Ninja Village Of The Cold Moon is based on the cryptic maki-mono scrolls of ancient Japan ~ yet written by a modern practitioner of the ninja's art. The scrolls contain the secrets possessed by each ninja family and expanded by each generation as new truths were discovered. And so here we have the contributions of Stephen K. Hayes to the secrets of the ninja's heart. <br /> <br />I highly recommend this book to any student of ninjutsu, and to anyone who seeks to make his heart the source of light in his life. <br /> <br />

Essence of the ninja

At its core, Wisdom From The Ninja Village Of The Cold Moon is an extraordinarily beautiful book of poetry. The maki-mono scrolls of the ninja clan's collected knowledge and wisdom inspire the compositional style of the book. If there is one book which can break the ... view of the black garbed ninja, this is it. Rather than focusing on what weapons the ninja uses or what fighting style he or she employs, this book reaches into the heart of the ninja. Hayes brings the philosophy and responsibilities of the ninja to the forefront by exploring everything from the need for harmony with the surrounding natural world:"Become one with the small animals of the forest.Teach them not to fear you.Move with natural gentleness through the realmYou share with them." (Hayes)To controlling one's inward feelings:"Do not hateand your enemy will not know that you bring his destruction.Do not fearAnd you will not be controlled." (Hayes)This book is necessary for the true practitioner of ninjutsu to understand that the most powerful weapons are not what is held in the hand, but what is harbored in the heart and the mind. Even for the more casual reader, truths to dealing with everyday problems will come forth from this book. A masterpiece to be treasured upon any bookshelf.

Ninja Scroll by an American Master

This was written in the style of the traditional teaching scroll inherited down the lineage among Ninja clans, pointing to their traditional teachings, but leaving much to the oral lessons of Master - student relationship. A great read!