The ancient art represents a form of advanced combat and mental disciplines.  The art originated when Cao Ping, a shaolin monk from China, became the victim of a boat wreck.  A massive windstorm caused him to veer off course, leaving him injured and adrift for seven days, until a Japanese farmer found him off the shores of Okinawa Island, Japan.  The farmer tended to the weakened monk and nursed him back to health.  In return, the monk helped the family take care of the land and cultivate the crops.  In time, Cao Ping fell in love with the eldest daughter.  He married her, and made Japan his home.  Cao Ping took the last name of Tanaka in honour of his new family and taught them the philosophies and physical exercises of his fathers.  As the years passed, the art came to include aspects of the samurai and the ninja ideals.  Over time, the art evolved to invoke fear and confusion in the dark shadows of a human soul.  But for that to take place, the body of the practitioner had to be in full control of its emotions and free from hate.  The House of Tanaka has protected the secrets of the Shadow Art for over 1,800 years.  The current gofu-hogosha (talisman-protector) of the Shadow Art is Makoto Tanaka.