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Was the portrayal of women as fierce and highly skilled warriors a common occurrence in Japanese literature?

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Was the portrayal of women as fierce and highly skilled warriors a common occurrence in Japanese literature?

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I found this particularly interesting as in Ancient Greece, women had a clear subordinate role in society, often treated as property with the sole purpose of birthing children. Whereas here, Tomoe is portrayed as a remarkable archer and swordswoman, 'worth a thousand'.

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What I found interesting in the reading was that the samurai seemed to have a good relationship with death. They accepted that if they were no longer able to fight, it was their job to kill themselves to maintain their and their families honour. Suicide, while in other cultures is deemed to be dishonourable and frowned upon, in samurai culture was the exact opposite. Suicide was a way to maintain their honour.

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- All Samurai were obligated to follow a moral code of conduct, bushido. The principles that they had to uphold were courage, integrity, benevolence, respect, honesty, honour, and loyalty. What I thought was interesting was how this code of conduct shaped the rituals that they follow. The most important ritual was called Seppuku, when a Samurai warrior chooses to gruesomely end his life instead of facing imminent defeat to the enemy. Though painful, it was integral in upholding the Bushido values of honour, courage, and loyalty.

- Why did Kiso send Tomoe back even if she was described as one of his most powerful warriors?

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Question: Why was Lord Kiso so intent on making a suicidal last stand in battle?

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Question: Why was Lord Kiso so intent on making a suicidal last stand in battle?

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Although he lost the previous battle, there was no reason for him to do such a thing. Why not reconsolidate your forces and battle your enemy another day when you are more prepared?

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Why was honor such an important aspect during samurai Japan, to a point where seppuku is a relatively common practice that is accpted and respected?

Japanese culture has a significant emphasis on honor, similarly to lots of other cultures at that time. However, the importance of honor seems to be on a whole other level in Japan. Even until WWII, it is believed by the Japanese soldiers that it is better to die with honor for the country than to surrender and live.

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Question: Why is a samurai's honour in death affected so greatly by those who kill them and present their head?

Idea: Samurai often believed that suicide on a battlefield or nearby a current one was more honourable than death in direct combat. People would sometimes buy their masters/lords time to run away and commit suicide, dying honourably that way. This was a core principle in Samurai Japan, but what makes it more interesting to me is that there isn't really anything similar to this in medieval Europe.

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What is exactly required for a servant to a master? What is honour to servants?

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What is exactly required for a servant to a master? What is honour to servants?

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As we can see it in the reading. There are lot kinds of hierarchy in Japanese society; master to servant, father to son, chief to courtier and samurais. I wonder what is the honour to attendants or retinues? Can a master offend a servant if yes, is the servant expected to take a pay-back?

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What was significant about telling the readers the colors, styles, and materials that different types of Samurai used?

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What was significant about telling the readers the colors, styles, and materials that different types of Samurai used?

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An idea I thought of while reading the "Heike Monogatari" was how honor is so significant in a Samurai society and how Samurai would take their own life if they dishonored their society. Just like first reading when Kanehira takes his own life after the lost of his Lord Kiso.

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Q: Why are the color, style, and material of the warrior's clothing are always described in such detail?

Something that I noticed in this reading was how ritualized every aspect of battle is. For example, a warrior on the battlefield often fights with someone at the same level of honor. Another example of ritualized battle is the perpetual act of cutting off each other's heads. Every aspect of the battle seems planned out and to have a reason. Unlike other battles, we have seen in this class are random and violent.

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What does the presence of the two female warriors, Tomoe and Yamabuki, say about gender in feudal Japan?

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What does the presence of the two female warriors, Tomoe and Yamabuki, say about gender in feudal Japan?

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Why do samurai write their name on their arrow, and why is it significant to them?

Although samurai are mostly known for their use of katana. Arrows are also commonly used by them. And samurai would put their name onto their arrow.

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At the start of the reading, Tomoe was described to be not only beautiful, but also talented in archery and warfare. This was extremely interesting as Medieval Japan was a patriarchal society in which women were expected to stay out of public sight and not engage in violent acts such as warfare. Did women have a place in Ancient Japanese warfare? Could women become warriors? Why is Tomoe a special exception?

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Why were samurai so willing to commit seppuku? How is it connected to honour and religion?

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Why were samurai so willing to commit seppuku? How is it connected to honour and religion?

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Question: Why were women in the Heike seen as secondary to men? 

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Question: Why were women in the Heike seen as secondary to men? 

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What I found interesting in reading the Heike this week was around the theme of gender. In the Heike, women were there to look pretty, even though they were highly skilled at fighting. For example;

Whenever a battle was imminent, Yoshinaka sent her out as his first captain, equipped with, strong armor, an oversized sword, and a mighty bow; and she performed more deeds of valor than any of his other male warriors. (page 291)

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*) What might be the relationship between horseback riding and honor in feudal Japan?
*) Just as there was an aesthetic/social relationship with the flowers in this period, as well as a correspondence between the life of the warrior and the precariousness of a fading flower, the horse represents the dominion -and connection- of man with his environment. The idea we have of nature as a landscape -in which humans intervene- is modern; perhaps here the relationship is of a different register. Knowing how to see, feel and appreciate nature was a way of affirming that one also knew how to see, feel and value the movements of the body in combat.