A groundbreaking new exhibition at the British Museum challenges the popular image of Japan's samurai, revealing that half of the warrior class were women. The display, titled 'Samurai', brings together over 280 objects from the museum's collection and 29 lenders, many shown for the first time.
The samurai emerged in the early medieval period from the 1100s to 1600 as hired private security for wealthy households. By 1615, they had transitioned from the battlefield to roles as government officials, scholars, and patrons of the arts. It is during this period that women made up half of the samurai class, playing vital roles both on and off the battlefield, though they did not typically fight.
Dr Rosina Buckland, Asahi Shimbun curator of Japanese Collections, explained that the misconception arises from a narrow understanding of the term 'samurai', which does not simply mean warrior. The most celebrated female samurai was Tomoe Gozen, who died in 1247 and was known for beheading an enemy who tried to capture her.
The exhibition also explores the samurai's influence on popular culture, with sections dedicated to film, television, manga, video games, and contemporary art. It reveals how myths about the samurai were shaped by politics, nostalgia, and global pop culture long after their era ended.
Highlights include a rare suit of samurai armour newly acquired by the museum, complete with a prestigious helmet and golden standard. The exhibition runs in three sections, covering the samurai as warriors, their evolution into a cultural class, and their modern legacy.
