Women and Bushido
There is no question that Japanese women have lived by the bushido code, just like their male counterparts. It just hasn't been that well documented. Most samurai men did not document their own lives, but many were written about. Women in general belonged to the mundane, the household, and were therefore not worth writing about.
And yet, if a woman happened to be married to a prominent samurai leader, or was perhaps an empress, or happened to live in Aizu province -- she might become very proficient in the naginata or the sword. She might lead a battle, or inspire an army and have a few adventures worth documenting.
In modern times there is growing curiosity about the lives of these women. A few sources of information are available on the web:
"Women Warriors of Japan: The Role of the Arms Bearing Women in Japanese History" by Ellis Amdur
"Why Women Should Wield Weapons" by Diane Skoss
PBS Series "Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire"
"Five Women Warriors" (Chinese)
"A Long History: Japanese Women Warriors" from About.com
Megan Winkler's page about the Aizu Province warriors
Page updated 07/07/2014
And yet, if a woman happened to be married to a prominent samurai leader, or was perhaps an empress, or happened to live in Aizu province -- she might become very proficient in the naginata or the sword. She might lead a battle, or inspire an army and have a few adventures worth documenting.
In modern times there is growing curiosity about the lives of these women. A few sources of information are available on the web:
"Women Warriors of Japan: The Role of the Arms Bearing Women in Japanese History" by Ellis Amdur
"Why Women Should Wield Weapons" by Diane Skoss
PBS Series "Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire"
"Five Women Warriors" (Chinese)
"A Long History: Japanese Women Warriors" from About.com
Megan Winkler's page about the Aizu Province warriors
Page updated 07/07/2014