Oni Gozen


Oni Gozen was a Japanese noble lady and Onna-bugeisha from the Sengoku period. She was the wife of Hoashi Akinao the retainer of Ōtomo clan. She was a military commander who actively participated in the Kyushu campaign, helping to repel the Shimazu army from the Ōtomo clan.
She received the name Gozen, a Japanese term that means "young lady".

Life

Oni Gozen was the daughter of Kogo Settu no Kami, there are no details about her early life or her real name. She entered a political marriage with Hoashi Akinao, a samurai warlord. After getting married she becomes a retainer of Otomo Sorin, the leader of the Otomo clan. During the wedding, she gave birth to a daughter who married Mori Gorōzaemon.
According to "Yama no Shiro Kassen no Ki" written in 1782 by the descendant of Hoashi clan, Oni Gozen was beautiful and dignified woman. Her height was about 175 cm, very tall for Japanese woman at that time.
She was not only skillful martial artist, but also military commannder.
She attacked enemy's camp like the lion hunting a flock of sheep. She defended the castle like the mizuchi burrowing in an abyss.
The people of neighbor province called her Oni Gozen a.k.a. Your Excellency Oni because of her bravery.
When the mighty army of Shimazu clan approached Ōtomo land during the Kyushu campaign, Oni Gozen pledged herself with a seal of blood on written oath of Kumano shrine to die in battle rather than commit seppuku. Many men and women including the wives and daughters of retainers joined the oath. Her daughter was the wife of Mori Gorōzaemon who was besieged in Tsunomure Castle. Oni Gozen sent a letter to her daughter and ordered not to suicide but fight the enemies. Hijū Castle of Akinao, the husband of Oni Gozen with about 500 men, was attacked by the Shimazu general Ijūin Tadamune with over 6,000 men. Akinao let Oni Gozen and the small garrison defend the castle and led almost all men to attack Ijūin base by pincer attack. This surprise attack put the enemy route and Tadamune heavily injured. This battle was one of the last battle between Ōtomo and Shimazu before the main army of Toyotomi Hideyoshi came to Kyūshū to relieve Ōtomo and subdue Shimazu.