Japanese Print "Tomoe Gozen Fighting off Wada no Yoshimori" by Tamagawa Shucho
Artist:Tamagawa Shucho
Title:Tomoe Gozen Fighting off Wada no Yoshimori
Date:1790s
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Source:Worcester Art Museum
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Description:
Narrow pillar print, at Awazu, Omi Province, in 1184 The female warrior Tomoe-Gozen defied convention by fighting on the battlefield and using weapons normally reserved for male samurai. In the classic late 12th century Heike Monogatari ("Tale of the Heike [/Taira]") Tomoe is described as exceptionally beautiful, with long hair. She was also a remarkable archer and swordswoman who could handle wild horses with great skill. Tomoe became Kiso Minamoto Yoshinaka's mistress and a commander, fighting the Taira clan during the Genpei War. They were driven from the capital when Yoshinaka's lawless tyranny in Kyoto provoked the enmity of former emperor Go-Shirakawa and the jealousy of