Onna — Bugeisha — The Mighty Samurai Warrior
In periods like Heian and Kamakura , within the samurai class there were also female members, known as Onna-bugeisha , who excelled and were even present on the battlefield although they were the exception rather than the rule. These women fought alongside male samurai primarily in times of need.
The onna-bugeisha or warrior women were very unusual, although there were some very famous warriors such as Tomoe Gozen (late Heian period) and Nakano Takeko (1847–1868). There is also a legendary figure, Empress Jingū (c. 169–269 AD), who is said to have also been a female samurai, who used her skills to inspire economic and social change in early Yamato Japan. According to legend, after her husband Emperor Chūai (Japan’s 14th Emperor) was killed in battle, she led an expedition west (in what is now Korea) around AD 200. C. returning victorious. Although the figure of Empress Jingū is surrounded by controversy since many historians believe that the accounts that are told of her are fictitious or misleading, Empress Jingū and the onna bugeisha despite having been a very small group of members in the Japan’s feudal era, represent a very important presence in its history.
Empress Jingū (b. 169 AD — d. 269 AD)
Bushi (samurai) women were mainly trained with the naginata (薙刀) for its great versatility against all kinds of enemies and weapons. This training ensured protection in communities and towns that lacked men who could fight. Historically, many women used a version of the tantō , called a kaiken (a type of dagger) for self-defense, however the onna-bugeisha learned the art of tantōjutsu to fight in battle.
