Samurai Woman: The Warrior Named Tomoe Gozen

As we set up for Sunday, we have begun telling stories to Peri from a variety of contexts. Some of these are Biblical, some of these are from Japanese culture, some are from our own lives. I wanted to tell you one of the stories from Japanese culture for starters.

Perhaps the most legendary Bushi (i.e. "Samurai) Woman was Tomoe Gozen. I read Peri the story of Tomoe Gozen this morning as we have begun to set the stage for Sunday, and have been quick to point out the range of qualities that were expressed by someone who exhibited balanced skill with "both hands" through her life.

According to legend and as outlined by the Heike (a literary account of the famed Genpei War in the 12th Century), Tomoe was described as:

"...especially beautiful, with white skin, long hair, and charming features. She was also a remarkably strong archer, and, as a swordswoman she was a warrior worth a thousand, ready to confront a demon or a god, mounted or on foot. She handled unbroken horses with superb skill; she rode unscathed down perilous descents. Whenever a battle was imminent, Yoshinaka sent her out as his first captain, equipped with strong armor, an oversized sword, and a mighty bow; and she performed more deeds of valor than any of his other warriors."

Expressing both prowess on the battlefield as well as in court during her time as the wife of Wada Yoshimori, Tomoe Gozen distinguished herself in Japanese history and has even today consistently served as the subject of novels, movies and additional legends about the balanced skill of a Bushi woman who could not only hold her sword, but her place as the apex of refinement in her culture.