FA 34a Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Yayoi Period, The Tale Of The Heike, Onna-Bugeisha
Document Summary
Onna bugeisha were female samurai who typically wielded a naginata (for distance combat) and a smaller blade. Tomoe gozen fought in the gempei war, and was often depicted as a very beautiful and vicious warrior. Heike monogatari places greater emphasis on her skill as a warrior than on her beauty. She is often depicted with pine trees, which were often associated with longevity and masculinity. There is a notable contrast between depictions of her as a warrior vs. her as a woman. For example, as a warrior she seems more active and as a woman outside of battle she seems more passive. These passive depictions of her as a woman reflect the nature and status of women during the edo period. Clay figurines were found at the old tombs of the. Buddhism widened the repertoire of japanese sculpture as well as of the techniques and materials.
