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Onna-Bugeisha or female samurai, formed a small section of the traditional Japanese upper class. Many wives, widows, daughters, and rebels answered the call of duty by engaging in battle, commonly alongside samurai men.<br/><br/> They were members of the bushi (samurai) class in feudal Japan and were trained in the use of weapons to protect their household, family, and honor in times of war. They also represented a divergence from the traditional 'housewife' role of the Japanese woman. Consisting of the female word onna (woman) and the masculine bugeisha (warrior), the term creates a misnomer, which can be quite controversial. Nevertheless, onna bugeisha were very important people in ancient Japan.<br/><br/> Significant icons such as Empress Jingu, Tomoe Gozen, Nakano Takeko, and Hojo Masako were all onna bugeisha who impacted Japan, shaping it into the country it is today.
The renowned female samurai, Tomoe-gozen in the 11th Century. Her husband or love was the Genji General Kiso Yoshinaka.<br/><br/> According to the 'The Tale of Heike', Tomoe was especially beautiful, with white skin, long hair, and charming features. She was also a remarkably strong archer, and as a swords-woman she was a warrior worth a thousand, ready to confront a demon or a god, mounted or on foot.<br/><br/> She handled unbroken horses with superb skill; she rode unscathed down perilous descents. 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.
An onna-bugeisha (女武芸者) was a type of female warrior belonging to the Japanese upper class. Many wives, widows, daughters, and rebels answered the call of duty by engaging in battle, commonly alongside samurai men. They were members of the bushi (samurai) class in feudal Japan and were trained in the use of weapons to protect their household, family, and honour in times of war.<br/><br/> They also represented a divergence from the traditional 'housewife' role of the Japanese woman. They are sometimes referred to as female samurai. Significant icons such as Empress Jingu, Tomoe Gozen, Nakano Takeko, and Hōjō Masako are famous examples of onna bugeisha.
Onna-Bugeisha or female samurai, formed a small section of the traditional Japanese upper class. Many wives, widows, daughters, and rebels answered the call of duty by engaging in battle, commonly alongside samurai men. They were members of the bushi (samurai) class in feudal Japan and were trained in the use of weapons to protect their household, family, and honor in times of war.<br/><br/> They also represented a divergence from the traditional 'housewife' role of the Japanese woman. Consisting of the female word onna (woman) and the masculine bugeisha (warrior), the term creates a misnomer, which can be quite controversial. Nevertheless, onna bugeisha were very important people in ancient Japan.<br/><br/> Significant icons such as Empress Jingu, Tomoe Gozen, Nakano Takeko, and Hojo Masako were all onna bugeisha who impacted Japan, shaping it into the country it is today.
Onna-Bugeisha or female samurai, formed a small section of the traditional Japanese upper class. Many wives, widows, daughters, and rebels answered the call of duty by engaging in battle, commonly alongside samurai men. They were members of the bushi (samurai) class in feudal Japan and were trained in the use of weapons to protect their household, family, and honor in times of war. They also represented a divergence from the traditional 'housewife' role of the Japanese woman. Consisting of the female word onna (woman) and the masculine bugeisha (warrior), the term creates a misnomer, which can be quite controversial. Nevertheless, onna bugeisha were very important people in ancient Japan. Significant icons such as Empress Jingu, Tomoe Gozen, Nakano Takeko, and Hojo Masako were all onna bugeisha who impacted Japan, shaping it into the country it is today.