Onna-bugeisha, especially in the earlier periods, possessed an unwavering spirit and the ability to thrive in leadership positions. To be managers and heads of household, they needed to be level headed when navigating socio-economic nuances of the time. Steadfast dedication to their lord and husband was demanded of samurai women.
Conversely, contemporary archetypes and character troupes are littered through each anime looked at thus far. Even though fictional troupes are not necessarily present in the Japanese populous, they are still a reflection of contemporary Japanese society. In InuYasha for example, Kagome’s powers and the presence of oni is heavily inspired by ancient Shintō …show more content…
the Bushidō Code
One could write off these personality types as a means of creating likable characters and stress that their inherent goals are not directly affected. For onna-bugeisha, the bushidō code required a woman to give herself completely to her clan and shogun.
Kikiyo’s love for InuYasha clouds her judgement and inevitably gets in the way of her position as the guardian of the shikon jewel. Miko were usually young, unmarried, and preferably virgin women that did not take lovers. Being seduced by a demon’s tama or spirit was, needless to say, frowned upon in ancient Shinto. Kikiyo was not the only one to allow love to sway her even if only temporarily. Hikaru, as a matter of fact, discovers that her lover Mansairaku is soothsayer who sent them on the quest and that his ploy is to rebirth the capital through destruction. When it comes time to kill him for his treason, she falters several times before unintentionally fracturing a megatama and dispersing the destruction spell. A real onna-bugeisha would have been troubled but would have not hesitated end their lover’s life to preserve their clan’s honor. Even Oda Nobuna wrestles with stepping down from her position of daimyo to become an anonymous wife of Yoshiharu. Samurai women of Sengoku period would not fathom leaving their high ranked positions for any reason beyond being forcefully removed from it or allowing a male heir take her