One of the most emblematic and striking figures of Japanese culture is the samurai. Fearless and brave warriors, with the katana as their main weapon. They are always portrayed in movies, games, animes, and mangas. Here on the site, we already have several articles about samurai, such as those about Itsuo Okada and Yasuke.
Whenever we hear about samurai, we immediately think of a male figure. And indeed, in most societies in the past, including Japanese society, it was men who became fighters and fought in wars. However, there are many records throughout history of women who managed to stand out in male-dominated environments.
In the feudal Japan of the samurai, there were warrior women, one of the most well-known being Tomoe Gozen (巴御前). It was even common for women in feudal Japan to receive martial training. Many were even trained to use swords and bows and arrows. However, this training was basically of a defensive nature, aimed at protecting their homes in case an enemy attacked.
But Tomoe Gozen, unlike most women of her time, focused her skills for offensive use, battling on the front lines. Let’s get to know a little more about this fearless character.
The legend of Tomoe Gozen
Tomoe Gozen was a Japanese warrior who lived around 1157 to 1247. It was during the Genpei War that Tomoe Gozen stood out and gained fame as a warrior. She was also skilled in the art of naginata (長刀), where one learned to manipulate a weapon that is basically similar to a spear but with a curved blade at the tip.
Interestingly, Tomoe is mentioned only in a tale from the late 12th century called The Tale of the Heike. Outside of this work, there are no other written records about Tomoe’s life. This leads some to treat this warrior as a fictional character.
This work describes Tomoe in such a way: “She was beautiful, had long black hair and fair skin. Moreover, she was a fearless knight, whom neither the fiercest horse nor the hardest could disconcert. With such skill she wielded the sword and the reverence that she was a match for a thousand warriors, and suitable to encounter god or demon…”
She was very skilled with swords, bows and arrows, and naginata, in addition to being a complete fighter. About two years after starting her career as a warrior, she was already leading armies of more than 1000 men.
Tomoe was portrayed in the work as a subordinate of a great samurai named Minamoto Yoshinaka. Some speculate that they were married or had some kind of romantic relationship. Yoshinaka was a powerful general and in 1192 became the feudal ruler of Japan.
The battle of Awazu
Some tried to reclaim Yoshinaka’s power, but together with the army that Tomoe was part of, it was defended. But everything changed in the battle of Awazu, where Minamoto Yoshinaka was challenged by one of his cousins named Minamoto Yoshitsune.
Yoshitsune’s army was much larger in number, which left Tomoe and her fellow warriors at a disadvantage. This led to the defeat of Tomoe’s husband. From there, there are several “endings” to this story.
Some say that Yoshinaka ordered Tomoe to flee the battlefield, as it would be somewhat shameful to die with a woman. Tomoe, even not wanting to flee, ends up yielding to her husband’s request. But before fleeing, she decapitates one of the enemy warriors and goes to the eastern provinces.
Others say that she died with her husband in that battle, refusing to abandon him. Still, others say that she survived that battle and even married one of her rivals. And some claim that she remained alive but decided to change her life, becoming a nun.
Regardless of the ending of this story, Tomoe is still seen and recognized today as a courageous, strong, and valiant woman. Leaving a beautiful legacy that women can achieve much, even in a completely unfavorable environment.
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