Tomoe Gozen

~1157–~1247 · Japanese · Genpei War, Late Heian Period

Known for: Legendary female samurai warrior known for her beauty and ferocity in the Genpei War

Tomoe Gozen was a female warrior (onna-bugeisha) who fought in the Genpei War alongside Minamoto no Yoshinaka. The Tale of the Heike describes her as 'especially beautiful, with white skin, long hair, and charming features' and simultaneously 'a remarkably strong archer, and as a swordswoman she was a warrior worth a thousand.'

She reportedly took the head of an enemy commander in single combat and was one of Yoshinaka's last remaining warriors at the Battle of Awazu. Whether she survived the war (possibly becoming a nun) or died in battle varies by account. She represents the rare documented female warrior in feudal Japan.

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