HISTORICAL CONTEXT: THE BEGINNING OF ONNA BUGEISHA
The Onna Bugeisha were Japanese female warriors who fought in battles, commonly alongside men. They existed as early as 200 AD, however, more have become increasingly well known and prevalent during the early Heian (794-1185) and Kamakura period (1185-1333) (Chao-Fong). The Onna Bugeisha were the members of the Bushi, a noble class in Feudal Japan. These women had undergone professional training in martial arts and the use of weapons to defend themselves, their families, and their honor. They frequently fought with men in battles and made up a substantial part of the samurai. Around the 12th century, Japanese women were not only required to manage finances and personnel, taking care of children, or other household chores, but they were also expected to defend their homes in times of war (Adela).
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Iconic weapons and martial art skills
NaGINATANaginata was the most iconic weapon used by the Onna Bugeisha during their era. This is a conventional polearm sword with an average of 6 inches to over 2 feet long curved blade (ny-naginata.org). The version that was often used by the female warriors was known as the ko-naginata, which was much smaller than the o-naginata frequently used by men. Naginata was considered more compatible with women's bodies as it allowed for better balance considering their height and strength (Yulia).
TantojutsuTantojutsu is a traditional Japanese fighting system that involves using a tanto knife. The length of this knife varies from 15-30 centimeters, which is significantly smaller than other swords like Katana and Wakizashi (Green). Female samurais were trained at early ages in the art of Tantojutsu to fight or defend themselves in wars.
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Kaiken DAggerKaiken dagger is a double-edged blade with a length of up to 10 inches. This dagger was mainly used for self-defense in small confined settings, where the wielder's movement was limited. Another interesting purpose of Kaiken dagger was to commit a ceremonial suicide (also known as "seppuku" or "harakiri"). Moreover, there was a tradition where Japanese women had to carry this weapon with them at all times if they moved in with their husbands (Yulia).
KatanaKatana is a long, curved, single edged sword with long grip to accommodate two hands. Due to its length of around 60 cm, this weapon is mainly equipped by male samurai.
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THe END OF SHOGUNATE ERA: FALL OF ONNA BUGEISHA
In the years between the Sengoku (1467-1605) and Edo period (1600-1868), the status of the Onna Bugeisha diminished significantly. With the rise of the Neo-confucianism, men who were previously samurai were no longer concerned about wars. They constantly turned their focus towards jobs like teachers and bureaucrats. Meanwhile, women who were once revered as fearless samurai were soon simply valued as child bearers and political pawns primarily for marriage purposes. Traveling for Japanese women during this time was also considered extremely difficult as they were not allowed to travel on their own and always had to be accompanied by a man. To leave their home, the daughters of upper-class households require permission establishing their business and motives (Adela). In the end, the ideal of women being a suitable companion for war was no longer conceivable. They had to be obedient, selfless, and willing to sacrifice their lives for the family honor (Yulia). Towards the end of the Shogunate era, the rest of the world came to believe that samurai were men as the Westerners began to rewrite the history of Japan's battling culture. As a result, the heroic quest of the Onna Bugeisha were buried in history and Japanese women were soon depicted as submissive and servile, clad in kimono and tightly-bound obi (Chao-Fong).