Onna-Musha in the Edo Period

Originally serving as female bushi, the Onna-musha were esteemed warriors in the early days of our Empire. They were members of the samurai class in feudal Japan and were trained in the use of weapons to protect their household, family, and honor in times of war. Over time, they distinguished themselves in the battlefield as able commanders, scoring impressive victories and cementing their names in the books of history.\n\nHowever, because of the influence of Edo neo-Confucianism, the status of the Onna-musha began diminishing significantly. The function of Onna-musha changed in addition to their husbands. Samurai were no longer concerned with battles and war, they were bureaucrats. Women, specifically daughters of most upper class households, were soon pawns to dreams of success and power. The roaring ideals of fearless devotion and selflessness were gradually replaced by quiet, passive, civil obedience. Despite this, many still wish to serve the nation's military forces as commanders and humbly request to be allowed to lay their lives in service of our country's noble cause. One notable example of the female bushi icons is Ohori Tsuruhime. She has courageously been to battle several times and her claim to divine inspiration coupled with fighting skills has led to her being compared with the likes of Joan of Arc. Her legacy will surely establish her as one of the most recognizable female warriors in Japanese history.