Samurai women

The role of a woman in Japan was often argued. Initially a woman played quite a superior role, which was reflected in Japanese mythology, where we can see the dominance of the Amaterasu sun goddess, as well as Izanami wife of the Izanagi god was considered to be absolutely equal with her husband.

There were times when combative women would handle troops and take one of the most powerful fortifications by assault. Later the dominant role of a woman was gradually fading. During the Heian period (710-1192), women were even less dominating, though their cultural contribution was quite high.

Another type of women was women of buke, which actively supported their husbands in their fight for political and military leadership. Brought up in war traditions they were the embodiment of their men and also referred as a privileged class.
Samurai women as well as their husbands, brothers and fathers were also devoted to a clan chief and were taught to serve him displaying complete obedience. It would also imply a talented swordsmanship. No wonder women of buke were skilled in the use of Japanese swords so that they could defend themselves from the enemies and if necessary to commit a suicide. Moreover, historical records prove that in many situations women of samurai class were mainly preoccupied with military duties and in times of war would defend their honor at the battlefield alongside with their husbands.

In cases where a real danger of falling prisoner, samurai women were not only quite decisive to die by hand of the male relative or his chief , but also undoubtedly could kill men if they couldn't commit ritual act, having no mercy on themselves and their children.

Samurai women and suicide
Samurai women used suicide as a protest against unjust treatment. One of the most shining examples of which was a story told by Francois Caron, who was an imperious regent of Higo province in 1600-1673. He conceived to kill one of his vassals in order to conquer his wife. After the death of the vassal, his wife took some time to grief over her husband death and called all the clan members and her huband's friends. During a ceremony she suddenly fell off the tower and broke her neck in the eyes of everybody. Though such suicide ritual was not characteristic for ritual self-destruction, it was one of the most efficient forms of protest. Being very decisive and fierce as well as buke men, women could take the responsibility to revenge upon those who would kill their chief or someone, who offended him.

Famous women warriors
Probably one of the most famous and brave women known through Japanese history was Tomoe Gozen, a wife of Minamoto Yoshinaka from Kiso. If talking about this legendary samurai woman, one would readily accept that she possessed a great deal of vigor and reckless courage, was very skilled at swords handling and riding. Usually she would enter the battlefield with her husband, inspiring warriors around her with the only appearance and courage. Tomoe displayed a white fury typical for a professional warrior.
They say that during a battle at Awazu she killed some enemies and their commander, who tried to catch Tomoe. As she flicked a horse, the sleeve of her clothes had left in his hand. Tomoe was so furious that she turned around, attached the chaser, cut his head and later took it to give it to her husband.

Another heroic warrior-woman was Hojo Masako, a wife of the Minamoto Yoritomo first well-known shogun. She was considered to be very shrewd, smart, ingenious and courageous woman. While her husband was alive, she had great influence and after his death was so powerful that in actual fact she was the one to run the country. Though we could well say that supreme power of the country resided to woman, Hojo Masako was not an actual leader of the country, but her real power and influence was spread quite vastly.

A woman who became history as a talented warrior, was well-known for perfectly handling naginata Japanese sword was Nakano Takeko. The defense of the Wakamutsu Castle(1868) was a great epic in Japanese history(the battle is seen in "Last Samurai"). Fighting along with samurai warriors of Aizu clan, Nakako Takeko defended ranks of the army in the fore and killed numerous enemies and finally was struck by the shot. In order to avoid a dishonorable death she asked her sister to take her life by cutting her head. Today her name is inscribed on the monument in Aizu Bangemachi temple.