Re:

Hello Viva,
A resounding YES to both of your questions.
The 'art of war' by Sonshi (Sun Tzu) was considered 'basic' reading for
anyone who wished to understand 'Heiho' or tactics..including all Samurai
retainers..It was an essential to the Japanese Bushi and was used as far back
as the 12th century by (Minamoto) Kiso no Yoshinaka who having read it knew
that a flock of birds taking off from woodland could mean an enemy presence
in those woods..In this case it was the Taira army and he also reversed the
tactic convincing the Taira that the sounds of birds at night were a massive
Minamoto army suiting up for war!
Regarding Hypnosis it was used in many forms and by many different
people..Sennin (wise men), Yamabushi (mountain ascetics), and Ninja have all
had hypnosis added to their skills..And the Samurai also used the same kind
of self hypnosis in the chanting of Mudra and forming of 'Ingei' (finger
knots) to draw upon 'supernatural powers' from a variety of divinities..Fudo
Myo O being a major one.
Kuji and Juji were methods used by Bushi to perform a type of hynosis on an
enemy..while the enemy was watching the hands or listening the attack could
be made..and the chanting of spells would have caused a panic to a highly
superstitious group such as the Japanese Samurai..
More will undoubtedly follow from the rest of us here but I hope this is a
start for you.
Abayo.
Ben.