Portrait of Tomoe Gozen

Title

Portrait of Tomoe Gozen

Description

Tomoe Gozen (1161?–1184?) was one of the few examples of a true female samurai in all of Japanese history. Her main weapon of choice was the Naginata.
 
This picture was drawn by Kikuchi Yosai (1781-1878). As the son of a samurai, he was adopted by the Tokugawa Clan and became an advocate for legendary warriors through his art. Through historically accurate portraits, he showcased the true spirit of the Japanese samurai in all their fearsome glory. Often requested by families, his style was independent and unique amongst all the scroll painters and ink brush landscapes, since he worked mostly in monochromatic block prints or drawings.

Files

Woman.jpg
Date Added
May 9, 2011
Collection
Samurai Weaponry
Citation
“Portrait of Tomoe Gozen,” Artists, Patrons, and Japanese Art, accessed March 19, 2024, https://artistandpatrons.omeka.net/items/show/27.