Changes

*''Japanese'': 巴御前 ''(Tomoe Gozen)''

*''Japanese'': 巴御前 ''(Tomoe Gozen)''

Tomoe Gozen<ref>Note that "gozen" is not a name, but rather a term of address that is often translated as "Lady," e.g. "Lady Tomoe."</ref> provides one of the few examples of a true woman warrior in early to early modern Japanese history, though some have questioned whether she truly lived, or was merely a fictional figure invented in the ''[[Heike Monogatari]]''. While countless other women were at times forced to take up arms (in defense of their castle, for example), Tomoe is described as a consummate warrior. She was married to [[Minamoto Yoshinaka|Kiso (Minamoto) Yoshinaka]] (though the ''Heike Monogatari'' describes her as a female attendant<ref>便所</ref>), who rose against the [[Taira clan|Taira]] and in [[1184]] took Kyoto after winning the [[Battle of Kurikara]]. With the Taira forced into the western provinces, Yoshinaka began insinuating that it was he should carry the mantle of leadership of the [[Minamoto clan]] - a suggestion that prompted attacks by [[Minamoto no Yoritomo]]. Fleeing after a major defeat, Yoshinaka, along with Tomoe, faced warriors allied with Yoritomo at [[Battle of Awazu|Awazu]], a desperate fight in which Tomoe took at least one head, that of Onda Hachirô Moroshige.

Tomoe Gozen<ref>Note that "gozen" is not a name, but rather a term of address that is often translated as "Lady," e.g. "Lady Tomoe."</ref> provides one of the few examples of a true woman warrior in early to early modern Japanese history, though some have questioned whether she truly lived, or was merely a fictional figure invented in the ''[[Heike Monogatari]]''. While countless other women were at times forced to take up arms (in defense of their castle, for example), Tomoe is described as a consummate warrior.  

 

Though scholarship for the most part concurs that Tomoe is most likely a purely fictional character, she is nevertheless described in some sources as the daughter of [[Nakahara no Kaneto|Nakahara no Kanetô]] (the husband of [[Minamoto no Yoshinaka]]'s wetnurse), and sister to [[Imai Kanehira]], alongside whom she fights at the [[battle of Awazu]].<ref name=kotobank>"[http://kotobank.jp/word/%E5%B7%B4%E5%BE%A1%E5%89%8D Tomoe Gozen]." ''Asahi Nihon rekishi jinbutsu jiten'' (朝日日本歴史人物事典, "Asahi Encyclopedia of Japanese Historical Figures"). Asahi Shimbun-sha. Accessed via Kotobank.jp, 22 February 2011.</ref>

 

According to some sources, she was married to Kiso (Minamoto) Yoshinaka (though the ''Heike Monogatari'' describes her as a female attendant<ref>便所</ref>, and other sources describe her as a consort, or even a prostitute<ref name=kotobank/>), who rose against the [[Taira clan|Taira]] and in [[1184]] took Kyoto after winning the [[Battle of Kurikara]]. With the Taira forced into the western provinces, Yoshinaka began insinuating that it was he should carry the mantle of leadership of the [[Minamoto clan]] - a suggestion that prompted attacks by [[Minamoto no Yoritomo]]. Fleeing after a major defeat, Yoshinaka, along with Tomoe, faced warriors allied with Yoritomo at Awazu, a desperate fight in which Tomoe took at least one head, that of Onda Hachirô Moroshige.

The ''Heike Monogatari'' describes Tomoe accordingly:

The ''Heike Monogatari'' describes Tomoe accordingly:

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"...Tomoe was 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."''<ref>McCullough, ''Tale of the Heike'', pg. 291</ref>

"...Tomoe was 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."''<ref>Helen Craig McCullough, ''Tale of the Heike'', Stanford University Press (1990), pg. 291</ref>

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Some have written that Tomoe in fact died in battle with her husband, while others assert that she survived and became a nun.

Some have written that Tomoe in fact died in battle with her husband, while others assert that she survived and became a nun.

==Notes==

==Notes==