Onna-musha
They were trained in the use of weapons to protect their household, family, and honour in times of war;[3][4] many of them fought in battle alongside samurai men.
She was also a remarkably strong archer, and as a swordswoman, she was a warrior worth a thousand, ready to confront a demon or a god, mounted or on foot.
Whenever a battle was imminent, Yoshinaka sent her out as his first captain, equipped with strong armor, an oversized sword, and a mighty bow; and she performed more deeds of valor than any of his other warriors.Tomoe Gozen was not always accredited as a historical figure.
Her actions in battle received much attention in the arts, such as the Noh play Tomoe and various ukiyo-e.[11][1] Another famous female warrior of the Genpei War was Hangaku Gozen.
[12][13] Chancellor Tōin Kinkata (1291–1360) makes mention in his journal Entairyaku (園太暦) of a "predominately female cavalry", but without further explanation.
In 1569, when a Mori family retainer from western Japan went absent from a campaign, his wife Ichikawa no Tsubone assumed responsibility for the defense of Kōnomine Castle with her armed ladies-in-waiting.
[20] The actions of Ōhōri Tsuruhime earned her the title of "Joan of Arc of Japan", and established her as one of the most recognizable female warriors in Japanese history.
[26] For example, Turnbull states that DNA tests on 105 bodies excavated from the Battle of Senbon Matsubaru between Takeda Katsuyori and Hojo Ujinao in 1580 revealed that 35 of them were women.
[27] However, the source Turnbull appears to cite for this does not use DNA analysis but instead uses less reliable methods based on the size and shape of the temporal bones of the skull.
[20][29] Because of the influence of Edo neo-Confucianism (1600–1868), the status of the onna-musha diminished significantly, their duties become focused on the home, whilst their husbands became bureaucrats or police agents.
Many samurai viewed women purely as child bearers; the concept of a woman being a fit companion for war was no longer conceivable.
[1][37] The naginata has a niche between the katana and the yari, which is rather effective in close quarter melee when the opponent is kept at bay, and is also relatively efficient against cavalry.
Additionally, as most of the time their primary purpose as onna-musha was to safeguard their homes from marauders, emphasis was laid on ranged weapons to be shot from defensive structures.
[1][37] The image of samurai women continues to be impactful in martial arts, historical novels, books, and popular culture in general.
[40] Like kunoichi (female ninja) and geisha, the onna-musha's conduct is seen as the ideal of Japanese women in movies, animations and TV series.
In the West, the onna-musha gained popularity when the historical documentary Samurai Warrior Queens aired on the Smithsonian Channel.
The warrior nun Myōrin is celebrated in the Tsurusaki region of the Ōita city, and Ōhōri Tsuruhime is the protagonist in local folklore and festivals on Ōmishima island.
