Tomoe Gozen is a name more people should know about. In medieval Japan, a period when women rarely took up arms except in times of necessity, Tomoe is one of the few who dedicated her life to becoming a warrior, and she was spectacular at it. Tomoe lived during a period of great turmoil known as the Genpei War, which took place between 1180 and 1185. This era was the catalyst for the rise of the samurai warrior caste, the beginning of the Kamakura shogunate, and marked the decline of the emperor to a symbolic position. The war began as a clash between two families for control of the imperial throne, the aristocratic Taira clan from the capital Kyoto and the rural Minamoto clan from the outer provinces. When the Taira placed a child on the imperial throne, a disgruntled prince made a call to arms to the Minamoto clan. Initially, the Taira had the advantage, but after a series of defeats, Minamoto turned the tide of the war, ultimately ending with the naval battle of Dan-no-ura. …show more content…
Much of Tomoe’s life is unknown; the Heike is where we learn most of what we know about Tomoe. What we do know about her is that she loved Minamoto no Yoshinaka. Some accounts say they were married, while others say she was merely a concubine or a “female attendant.” In Heike, she is described as being “especially beautiful, with white skin, long hair, and charming features.” She was said to be an excellent horse rider, taming even the most ill-tempered horse. “She was a remarkably strong archer, and swordswoman she was a warrior worth a thousand.” Yoshinaka was so overtaken by her courage and ability, he made her one of his captains. Tomoe was sent on many dangerous scout missions and fought in multiple battles. She defeated many opponents and collected their heads, which were seen as trophies during the