Pure Heart: Ninjutsu Chronicle

Seishin
Title	Pure Heart: Ninjutsu Chronicle
Japanese Title:	清心 ~ 忍術年代記
Genre	Historical drama, semi-fiction, ninja, war, family saga, folklore, martial arts
Starting Date	October 2008 - November 2009 (hiatus); 2011
Stories	??

Iga and Koga Symbols

Pure Heart: Ninjutsu Chronicle (清心 ~ 忍術年代記, seishin: ninjutsu nendaiki), also called Seishin Series (清心シリーズ) and Seishin Ninpōchō (清心 忍法帖), is a Japanese historical fiction (a Jidaigeki) and family saga series authored by MGW.

It is often set in the 16th century and includes popular people from both Japanese folklore and Japanese history. It started in October 2008, and then was put on hiatus on November 3rd, 2009, due to the author having too much difficultly with it. She stated that her material and research were too meager to progress. Before the hiatus, five chapters were made. In 2010, it was decided that Seishin will be an anthology series.

Production

Inspired by Japanese history and Futaro Yamada the creator of the Ninpōchō series, MGW wanted to develop a long series portraying "realistic ninja" for a broad audience. She aimed for a view outside their popular image from media, in which she began to disdain, and looked for as much knowledge on them as possible. The info turned out to be scarce or unclear and MGW sought for a simple approach in her goal. Furthermore, she wanted to turn down the use of magic or paranormal influences in the story, but instead decided to feature Shinto spirits and inhuman abilities at a limited level. More to MGW's goal was to form a large ensemble cast and, for the first time,she also wanted to include strong violence, profane language, sexual situations such as shudō and prostitution, and other mature themes.

About the title

While planning the series, MGW had various ideas for the title. At first, she wanted to use the words "chronicle" or "annal" (年代記 ;nendaiki) in Japanese. There was also "whirlwind" (旋風 ; tsumujikaze); however, once deciding the story's purpose of creating a deeper image of ninja, MGW wanted to use the word "heart" by all means. She was also inspired by the word "ishindenshin" (以心伝心), which means "tacit understanding" or "empathy". The first full title was "Intrepid Heart", and Seishin was spelled with different symbols that meant "spirit" (精神).

The word "seishin" is important and plays an important role to the development of the characters. Seishin (正心) means "the right heart" or "spirit"; but in the title, the two Kanji letters are different: 清 (sei; pure, cleansed) and 心 (shin; heart, core, spirit). The entire idea comes from the Bansenshukai (萬川集海), which is said to be the core text of ninja principles.. It is used to deeply evaluate a person's thoughts.

Some sources state that the ninja were like mystics or shamans, or were insightful and sincere people. In the Bansenshukai, the meaning of "correct heart" (Seishin) is the adherence to virtue, righteousness, loyalty, and sincerity. It is important because it pertains to a person’s level of consciousness, senses, pose, willpower or vitality. It can be considered as the ninja’s core or essence, or the will to encounter both the deep and superficial hazards of their lives. To nurture a good Heart can help a person elude a void within and deter confusion, while keeping hold on their humanity. Conflict is something that is there to go against a person, not necessarily a superficial fight like on the battlefield. Committed valor is needed to face conflicts or it will project out onto others lives.

Formatting & Difficulties

MGW's initial plan was to make Seishin a novel with at least ninety or one-hundred chapters. The first design had five chapters set in the year of 1565 (Eiroku 8), but MGW had small ideas on how the story would develop. She wanted to cover a few historical events, with the Iga Tenshō no Ran being one of the most important. MGW was not pleased with the results, nor her writing style, and put the story on hiatus so that she could consult to more research on Japan.

There was also the trouble with character backgrounds and keeping history, fiction and non-fiction, mostly tenacious. To make things more comfortable and to avoid confusion, she thought of producing shorter stories and flash fiction to promote her novel-turned series. This way, various readers can read about the ninja during different timelines and events, instead of going in order. More time can be given to create stories, and multiple points-of-views can be told.

Synopsis & Setting

Main article: Setting of Seishin

Main article: Timeline of Pure Heart: Ninjutsu Chronicle

Pure Heart is a collection of stories following the lives of Japan's ninja, starting out in the Warring States Era and expanding through many years. The concept behind Pure Heart is the creation of a "real ninja", by reinventing the ninja from their famous image in media to a broad audience.

The Iga Ninja and the Koga Ninja are the most popular ninja and have a rivalry of unknown roots. The Iga are located in Iga Province, a small ancient region in present day Mie Prefecture of southern central Japan. A series of tall fogged mountains surround Iga's ninja settlements, and is near impervious to intruders except to the most daring, and naturally those that know its inhabitants well. In the 16th Century, the Iga serve the Tokugawa Family. Iga is also a name of a district within the province.

The Koga are located in the southern end of Omi Province (in present day Shiga Prefecture), which was also an ancient region in central Japan. The Omi Province is larger than the nigh Iga Province by 3,329 kilometers. Only the barrier of mountains, and rugged passes, stand between them; Iga is south of Omi. The Koga have been serving the Sasaki-Rokkaku family since the 1100s. They are also called the Koka, named after a city in Omi/Shiga.

The ruthless Fūma ninja serve the Go-Hōjō Family, who fights the Uesugi family. Their home is around the Ashigara Mountain pass in Sagami Province. The Fūma, desiring a lot of influence much like their agents, have a notable rivalry with the Koga at first.

Stories and Chapters

Main article: List of Seishin Stories and Chapters

The stories within Seishin cover a familiar piece of Japanese history or incident with the characters.

Characters

Main article: Characters of Seishin

Main article: Aptitude Measurements in Seishin

Groups and Families

Main article: List of Seishin Groups

External Links

• DarthWiki: Seishin Tropes
• Iga Musuem site (Japanese)
• Koga Ryu Ninjutsu
• Winjutsu
• Samurai Archives
• Ueno City
• 49 True Stories (Japanese)
• Army Rangers
• Living Values
• Go Army: Rangers
• Ninjutsu Articles (English)