Wonder Woman of the Week: Tomoe Gozen

Tomoe Gozen, a famed onna-musha (female warrior), lived during Japan’s late Heian period (794–1185) and played a key role in the Genpei War, a brutal civil conflict between the Taira and Minamoto clans. Though details about her life are scarce and often blurred by legend, Tomoe is most prominently featured in The Tale of the Heike, a 13th-century epic chronicling the war. Described as exceptionally beautiful, brave, and skilled in combat, she is said to have served under Minamoto no Yoshinaka, a prominent general and, according to some accounts, her lover or husband. In a period when women were largely excluded from warfare, Tomoe’s presence on the battlefield was extraordinary, and she defied the expectations of her gender with unmatched courage and strength.