Monomi (scouting or reconnaissance) was the art of observing a military situation outside an area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about natural features and enemy presence.
According to the Giyoshu military manual, shinobi rested during the daytime but at night they acted as spies and monomi scouts. Watchmen would scout around no-man's land before they returned to their camp or before a change of guards. These watchmen should get familiar with the enemy's land with the guidance of shinobi no mono.
The three groups of mitsumono scouts were kagi, who sniff the air, monogiki who listen, and metsuke who see. All three are inu (dogs) or shinobi. Observing an enemy from afar is called kenmi (looking from a distance), observing while laying down is called miwake (to distinguish). Kamari-monomi (hidden scouting) is done while wearing armor by a group of shinobi or togiki (listening scouts).
Ko-Monomi[]
Ko-monomi were were small scouting groups that would ride horses and either venture out together in pairs or groups of 3, or scout alone.
According to the Giyoshu manual they should know the following:
- If the arrangement of natural and artificial physical features of an area is positive or negative
- The distance of the route
- If the enemy is sizable or not
- If the enemy's force is large or small
- If the enemy is prepared or not
- If the enemy will advance or retreat
- Whether or not the enemy will attack
- Whether or not the enemy will encamp
- Whether or not the enemy's momentum increased
- If the enemy are formed together or are separated
- Whether the enemy will assault or surrender
- Whether the enemy is weak or strong
- Whether or not the enemy could cross a river or not
- If the enemy can be defeated or not
These scouts should know how to measure the depth of a river, how wide or narrow a moat is, and if there are ambushes or not. When monomi scouts and the lord's messengers return with information, they use a small flag as a signal.