Tomoe Gozen

Tomoe Gozen (kanji: 巴 御前, Japanese pronunciation: [tomo.e], c. 1157 – c. 1247[3]) was a onna-bugeisha, who appeared in 14th century Japanese literature.[4] According to lore, she served Minamoto no Yoshinaka during the Genpei War and was a part of the conflict that led to the first shogunate.[5][6] Her family had strong affiliations with Yoshinaka.

This article is about the female samurai. For the 1981 Jessica Amanda Salmonson novel, see Tomoe Gozen (novel).
Tomoe Gozen
巴 御前
Tomoe Gozen, by Shitomi Kangetsu
Borncirca 1157
Japan
Diedcirca 1247
Japan
Resting placeOtsu City , Kiso Village, Japan
Occupationonna-bugeisha
Years activelate 12th century (Heian period)
ChildrenYoshitaka (ja:源義高 (清水冠者), Yoshishige ?, Yoshimoto ((ja:源義基 (木曾義基)) ?,[1][2] Yoshimune (ja:木曾基宗)?
Parent(s)Father = Nakahara no Kaneto (ja:中原兼遠), Mother = Chizuru Gozen (ja:千鶴御前)

Although never proven to be a historical figure, her story influenced several generations of samurai. Tomoe is often celebrated in books, music, poems, films, historical novels and popular culture in general.[6]

History

Her father, Nakahara Kanetō, was a strong supporter and foster father of Yoshinaka, having raised him since he was two. Her mother was Yoshinaka's wet nurse. Two of her elder brothers also served Yoshinaka as generals.[6] She is best known for her participation in the Battle of Awazu in 1184.

According to epic account written at the beginning of the 14th century,

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.

— The Tale of the Heike[7]

In 1182 she commanded 300 samurai in a struggle against 2,000 warriors of the rival Taira clan. After defeating the Taira and driving them into the western provinces, Yoshinaka took Kyoto and desired to be the leader of the Minamoto clan. His cousin Yoritomo was prompted to crush Yoshinaka, and sent his brothers Yoshitsune and Noriyori to kill him. Yoshinaka fought Yoritomo's forces at the Battle of Awazu on February 21, 1184, where Tomoe Gozen purportedly took at least one head of the enemy. Although Yoshinaka's troops fought bravely, they were outnumbered and overwhelmed. When Yoshinaka was defeated there, with only a few of his soldiers standing, he told Tomoe Gozen to flee because he wanted to die with his foster brother Imai no Shiro Kanehira and he said that he would be ashamed if he died with a woman.[8]

Tomoe Gozen with Uchida Ieyoshi and Hatakeyama no Shigetada. Woodblock print by Yōshū Chikanobu, 1899

There are varied accounts of what followed. At the Battle of Awazu in 1184,[9] she is known for beheading Honda no Morishige of Musashi.[10] She is also known for having killed Uchida Ieyoshi and for escaping capture by Hatakeyama Shigetada.[11] After Tomoe Gozen beheaded the leader of the Musashi clan and presented his head to her master Yoshinaka.[12]

In fiction and culture
  • Tomoe Gozen's life, set in a fantasy Japan, is the subject of a trilogy of novels by Jessica Amanda Salmonson (The Disfavored Hero, The Golden Naginata and Thousand Shrine Warrior, 1981–1984).
  • Tomoe Gozen is the basis of the Persona of Chie Satonaka in the 2008 video game Persona 4.
  • Tomoe Gozen is a playable commander in the Rise of Kingdoms online game, with an archery & support specialization.[13]
  • Tomoe Gozen is one of the supporting characters in the 2010 Syfy series Riverworld.
  • Tomoe Gozen appears as an enemy at first with her alias as 'Archer of Inferno', but becomes a playable Archer-class servant in the mobile game Fate/Grand Order.
  • A character based on Tomoe Gozen appears in the Stan Sakai comic book series Usagi Yojimbo, named Tomoe Ame.
  • Tomoe Gozen appears as a character in the podcast Film Reroll.
  • Tomoe Gozen appears as a character in the manga and anime Nurarihyon no Mago.
  • Tomoe Gozen appears in Heian Shrine's Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages), which is held on October 22 each year.
  • Tomoe is the name of a character in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice who serves as both a mentor and guardian to multiple characters throughout the game. While meant to be distinct from the historical figure, they are repeatedly described as a master of both sword and bow, obviously taking inspiration from Tomoe Gozen.
  • Tomoe Gozen appears in the Samurai Deeper Kyo manga by Akimine Kamijyo (1999-2006), where she initially appears as Saisei, until it is revealed she is Tomoe Gozen, but resurrected as a zombie to help the antagonists.
  • Tomoe Gozen is mentioned in the Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir series, where she is revealed to be a past Miraculous holder.
  • A character named Tomoe is featured in Ghost of Tsushima, inspired by Tomoe Gozen.[14]

Notes
  1. ja:武居用拙『岐蘇古今沿革志』（明治23年（1890年））
  2. ja:今井善兵衛著『更生農村 : 北橘村の実情 』日本評論社（1935年）
  3. Note: Gozen is not a name, but rather an honorific title, usually translated to "Lady", though the title was rarely bestowed upon men as well.
  4. Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric et al. (2005). "Tomoe Gozen" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 984., p. 984, at Google Books
  5. Turnbull, Stephen (1987). Battles of the Samurai. Arms and Armour Press. p. 14. ISBN 978-0853688266.
  6. Pennington, Reina (2003). Amazons to Fighter Pilots - A Biographical Dictionary of Military Woman (Volume Two). Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. pp. 437–438. ISBN 978-0-313-32708-7.
  7. McCullough, Helen Craig. (1988). The Tale of the Heike, p. 291., p. 291, at Google Books; Kitagawa, Hiroshi et al.(1975). The Tale of the Heike, p. 519.
  8. The Tales of the Heike. Translated by Burton Watson. Columbia University Press. 2006. p. 86. ISBN 9780231138031.
  9. Turnbull, Stephen (1998). The Samurai Sourcebook. Cassell & Co. p. 204. ISBN 978-1854095237.
  10. Faure, Bernard. (2003). The Power of Denial: Buddhism, Purity, and Gender, p. 211, p. 211, at Google Books; Kitagawa, p. 521.
  11. Joly, Henri L. (1967). Legend in Japanese Art, p. 540.
  12. Salmonson, Jessica Amanda (2015-04-07). Thousand Shrine Warrior. Open Road Media. ISBN 9781453293836.
  13. "Rise of Kingdoms Commander Tomoe Gozen". Rise of Kingdoms Guides. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  14. Tassi, Paul. "'Ghost Of Tsushima 2' Has A Clear Hero In Waiting, A Legendary Woman Samurai". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-07-30.

References
  • Faure, Bernard (2003). The Power of Denial: Buddhism, Purity, and Gender. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-09170-9; ISBN 978-0-691-09171-6; OCLC 49626418.
  • Joly, Henri L. (1967). Legend in Japanese Art: A Description of Historical Episodes, Legendary Characters, Folk-lore Myths, Religious Symbolism, Illustrated in the Arts of Old Japan. Rutland, Vermont: Tuttle. ISBN 978-0-8048-0358-8; OCLC 219871829.
  • Kitagawa, Hiroshi and Bruce T. Tsuchida, ed. (1975). The Tale of the Heike. Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press. ISBN 0-86008-128-1; OCLC 164803926.
  • McCullough, Helen Craig (1988). The Tale of the Heike. Palo Alto, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-1418-1; OCLC 16472263.
  • Nussbaum, Louis Frédéric and Käthe Roth (2005). Japan Encyclopedia. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01753-5; OCLC 48943301.
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