Knights, Gunslingers, Samurais, These men were the poster heroes of their
time and today we recall the history of their respective eras through them.
But unlike the other two, Samurai wasn’t a male exclusive profession.
Meet Onna-bugeisha and Onna-musha, the lady warriors of Japan. Today Nutty History brings you
the fascinating tale of lesser-known Samurai women who played an important role in shaping Japan.
While the samurais rose to their peak of social status in the 12th century,
Onna-musha, the lady samurais, were present in Japanese history as far back as 200 AD.
The history of lady samurais traces back to legendary Empress Jingū
who conquered modern-day Korea leading the forces herself on the battlefield.
It is still debatable if she really existed or not but she was not the only Lady Samurai
who appears in the annals of Japanese history long before Samurai clans became the default protectors
of the island nation. During the 5th and 6th century, the period when the concept of samurai
was still anew, Onna-Mushas were ruling Japan with their military prowess. Empress Suiko and
Shaman Queen Himiko are still considered as few of the most prominent rulers of Japan.
There were two types of female samurais in Japan, The Onna-bugeishas and the Onna-Mushas.
Onna Bugeishas were the upper-class women belonging to the nobility called The Bushi,
just like male samurai. They were trained in the art of war and the use of Nangita,
an ice-hockey-stick-like light weapon. While Nangita was their martial choice of weapon,
Onna-Bugeisha always carried daggers up their sleeves and they were proficient in using them
for stabs and ranged throws. But the training was not for the fighting, instead, it was meant
to help them to protect their home, children, and honor. Still, despite being benched from joining
the warrior life, they were responsible for the duty of revenge, if in case, the men of the house
failed in their job. However, that doesn’t mean Lady Samurais were entirely forbidden from going
into war. Onna-Mushas not only fought battles but also actively participated in politics. Nun
Shogun was an Onna-Musha who took over the rule after the demise of her husband. Despite becoming
a Buddhist Nun, she kept her Nangita close and ruled the lands of her husband until her death.
During the Genpai war of 1180-85, a woman named Tamai Gozen stepped forward to inspire lady
samurais as the nation’s future hung in balance. An excellent swordswoman, Gozen was a rare oddity
who chose Katana over traditional Nangita and became one of the fiercest warriors to wield it.
She was also an excellent rider and archer and led her clan of 300 samurai in several battles.
In the battle of Taira of 1182, her clan faced an army of 2000 Taira clan warriors. Only 5
people from both sides survived that clash including Gozen. Two years later during the
battle of Awazu, she decapitated the Musashi clan leader and kept his head as a trophy.
Imagine walking into a beautiful lady’s home and finding an ugly berserker’s head
on the shelf staring down into your soul. Lord Yoshinaka considered her the first true general
of medieval Japan. Her saga lived on for centuries as she inspired more women to take
on arms and become an Onna-Musha themselves. Female warriors would protect villages and
open schools across the Japanese empire to train young women in martial arts and military strategy.
The Battle of Aizu in 1868 was the turning point in the history of Japan.
It marked the end of Feudal Japan and the era of Samurai and Shoguns. The legacy of Lady Samurais
ended with the 21-year-old Nakano Takeko taking a bullet to her chest. Takeko was highly educated
and well versed in the art of war despite her very young age. She was the daughter of
a high-ranking official in the Imperial Court, the reign she fought against. She commanded the fierce
Joshitai and the male samurai army, killing many enemies in close combat before falling herself.
This defeat was the final nail in the coffin for Onna-Bugeisha. Women’s status in the Edo
period was already diminishing since the 17th century and after this battle, western
historians buried lady Samurais deep in Japanese history. Thanks for watching Nutty History.