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10 facts about Onna-bugeisha

10 Facts About the Onna-bugeisha: Japan’s Female Samurai Warriors

Léonie Chao-Fong
19 February 2020

Early Modern
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While the word “samurai” is a strictly masculine term, female warriors have existed in Japan since as early as 200 AD.

Known as “Onna-Bugeisha” (literally meaning “woman warrior”), these women were trained in martial arts and strategy, and fought alongside the samurai to defend their homes, families and honour.

Centuries before the rise of the samurai class in the 12th century, onna-bugeisha were acknowledged to be every bit as strong, deadly and fearless as their male counterparts.

Here are 10 facts about the onna-bugeisha.

1. One of the first onna-bugeisha was an empress
The history of the onna-bugeisha can be traced back to Empress Jingū (169-269), one of the first female warriors in the history of Japan.

Following the death of her husband, Emperor Chūai, she took the throne and personally led an invasion of Silla – present-day Korea.

Empress Jingu
Empress Jingu setting foot in Korea. Painting by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, 1880 (Credit: Waseda University Theatre Museum).
Jingū was a fearsome warrior who defied every social norm of her time; she is said to have been pregnant when she bound her body, donned men’s clothes and rode into battle.

Legend goes that she led the successful expedition without shedding a drop of blood, and continued to rule over Japan for the next 70 years until the age of 100.

In 1881, Jingū became the first woman to appear on a Japanese banknote.

2. Their main weapon was the naginata
The onna-bugeisha were trained to use a weapon specifically designed for women, called a Naginata.

The naginata was a versatile, conventional pole arm with a curved blade at the tip. Its length allowed the onna-bugeisha better balance given their smaller stature.

Ishi-jo
Ishi-jo wielding a naginata by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1848 (Credit: CeCILL / CC).
During the peaceful years of the Edo period, the naginata became a symbol of status and often formed part of the dowry of women of the nobility.

Later in the Meiji era, it became popular as a martial art for women; many schools focusing on the use of the naginata were created.

3. One of the most famous onna-bugeisha was Tomoe Gozen
The Genpei War (1180-85) between the rival samurai dynasties of Minamoto and Taira gave rise to one of the greatest Japanese women warriors: a young woman named Tomoe Gozen.

Tomoe Gozen (“gozen” meaning “lady”) was a legendary swordswoman whose expert talents included archery, horseback riding, and the art of the katana – the iconic sword used by the samurai.

In the 14th century ‘The Tale of Heike’, Gozen was described as:

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

She was known as one of the few women warriors who engaged in offensive battle – known as onna-musha – rather than the defensive fighting more common among traditional onna-bugeisha.

Tomoe Gozen
Tomoe Gozen in the Battle of Awazu by Utagawa Yoshikazu (Credit: Public domain).
On the battlefield, she was respected and trusted by her troops. In 1184, she led 300 samurai into a fierce battle against 2,000 Taira clan warriors and was one of only 5 to survive.