female warrior; woman martial artist
Historical term for a woman trained in martial arts, especially in pre-modern Japan. Often associated with figures like onna-bugeisha.
Tomoe Gozen is a famous female warrior.
Female warriors also existed during the Warring States period.
武士 is a general term for a samurai or warrior (usually male), while 女武芸者 specifically refers to a female martial artist or warrior.
女武者 is a more common synonym for a female warrior, often used in historical contexts. 女武芸者 emphasizes martial arts training.
Compound of 女 (onna, 'woman') + 武芸者 (bugeisha, 'martial artist'). The term is historically associated with female warriors in feudal Japan.