Illustrated Story of Night Attack on Yoshitsune's Residence At Horikawa, 16th Century 2

The word “Onna-bugeisha” literally translates to “woman warrior.” These women were as skilled in combat as their male counterparts. This warrior class came into existence around the time of Empress Jingu, a legendary Japanese empress who ruled as a regent following her husband’s death in 200 CE. With Empress Jingu paving the way Onna-bugeisha became more numerous and prominent. They became famous for their iconic weapon, the Naginata. This balanced pole arm was used by both men and women, it had a longer reach than a sword, allowing the user to create space on the battlefield and strike their opponent while remaining out of their reach. One of the most prominent early Onna-bugeisha is Tomoe Gozen, who helped the Minamoto rise to prominence during the Genpei War (1180-1185). The 5-year long war involved two prominent Japanese clans, the Taira and Minamoto. Gozen belonged to the latter, serving Minamoto no Yoshinaka, better known as Lord Kiso. Gozen’s talent on the battlefield saw her given command of 300 samurai.