"Onna-bugeisha – The Female Samurai Warriors" Topic

"Long before the modern-day archetype of the male samurai warrior, Japanese history was dominated by powerful female samurais. They were trained to use weapons and martial arts long before the existence of the established samurai class. They were known as the Onna-Bugeisha, and they were highly educated in science, mathematics, and literature. Female warriors were in the noblest class of feudal Japanese society, and would fight alongside men during warfare…."
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Amicalement
Armand

Interestingly the wiki on the subject notes that Tomoe may well be fictional.

It also notes with a bit more emphasis that the primary reason for female weapons training was to enable them to protect their household in the absence of their husband/lord.

At least it did note that the naginata was their primary weapon as it allowed them a longer reach and a way to offset the greater strength of the male samurai.

Glad you enjoyed it my friend!.

Amicalement
Armand

+1 to goragrad

Plus we are talking about 600+ years of history (even more if you want to get into the Boshin Wars). Attitudes towards female warriors ebbed and flowed during that time period.