Tomoe Gozen was a late twelfth-century japanese onna-bugeisha warrior and military leader. She served Minamoto no Yoshinaka in the Genpei Warshogunate in Japan. Her family had strong affiliations with Yoshinaka. Her father, Nakahara Kanetō was a strong supporter of Yoshinaka and also his foster father, who raised him since he was two. Her mother was Yoshinaka's wet nurse. Two of her elder brothers also served Yoshinaka as generals. She is best known for her participation in the Battle of Awazu in 1184. Due to her fierce determination as a warrior, she influenced several generations of samurai. Tomoe is often celebrated in books, music, poems, films, historical novels and popular culture in general.
History
According to epic account written at the beginning of the 14th century, In 1182 she commanded 300 samurai in a struggle against 2,000 warriors of the rival Taira clan. After defeating the Taira and driving them into the western provinces, Yoshinaka took Kyoto and desired to be the leader of the Minamoto clan. His cousin Yoritomo was prompted to crush Yoshinaka, and sent his brothers Yoshitsune and Noriyori to kill him. Yoshinaka fought Yoritomo's forces at the Battle of Awazu on February 21, 1184, where Tomoe Gozen purportedly took at least one head of the enemy. Although Yoshinaka's troops fought bravely, they were outnumbered and overwhelmed. When Yoshinaka was defeated there, with only a few of his soldiers standing, he told Tomoe Gozen to flee because he wanted to die with his foster brotherImai no Shiro Kanehira and he said that he would be ashamed if he died with a woman. There are varied accounts of what followed. At the Battle of Awazu in 1184, she is known for beheading Honda no Morishige of Musashi. She is also known for having killed Uchida Ieyoshi and for escaping capture by Hatakeyama Shigetada. After Tomoe Gozen beheaded the leader of the Musashi clan and presented his head to her master Yoshinaka, Tomoe's reputation was so high that she was considered the first general of Japan.
Tomoe Gozen is a playable commander in the Rise of Kingdomsonline game, with an archery & support specialization.
Tomoe Gozen is one of the supporting characters in the 2010 Syfy series Riverworld.
Tomoe Gozen appears as an enemy at first with her alias as 'Archer of Inferno', but becomes a playable Archer-class servant in the mobile gameFate/Grand Order.
Tomoe is mentioned in ' as the mentor of one of the primary antagonists, Genichiro Ashina, who taught him how to harness the power of lightning. She is described as a swordswoman of remarkable skill. Whether or not the mentioned Tomoe is in fact Tomoe Gozen is not clarified though
Tomoe Gozen appears in the Samurai Deeper Kyo manga by Akimine Kamijyo, where she initially appears as Saisei, until it is revealed she is Tomoe Gozen, but resurrected as a zombie to help the antagonists.
Tomoe Gozen is mentioned in the series, where she is revealed to be a past Miraculous holder.
A character named Tomoe is featured in Ghost of Tsushima, inspired by Tomoe Gozen.
