After Tomoe rides off into the Eastern Provinces...
Tomoe Gozen does not appear in any more contemporary literature. It is likely she is a character made up for enteriainment value in the Heike Monogatari rather than an actual historical figure. Nevertheless legend exists of what happened to Tomoe post Awazu. According to popular legend Tomoe Gozen fought Wada Yoshimori, who defeated her in battle and then became his wife. After Wada Yoshimori dies Tomoe supposedly lives out the rest of her days as a nun in the Echizen province. Tomoe's encounter with Yoshimori is depicted in the prints shown below. In all the prints Tomoe is seated on horseback while Yoshimori is on foot. The depictions do not necessarily seem to indicate which warrior will be the winner. It should be noted that these prints were made hundreds of years after the end of the Gempei War and the writing of the Heike Monogatari.
Tomoe gozen Battling Uchida Ieyoshi while Wada Yoshimori Tries to Intervene, Chikanobu (1838-1912)
Tomoe gozen is depicted here taking the head of Uchida Ieyoshi with Wada Yoshimori in the background.
Tomoe gozen is depicted here taking the head of Uchida Ieyoshi with Wada Yoshimori in the background.
Awazu kassen (Battle of Awaza), Tsujioka-ya Bunsuke, 1855
In the above triptych Minamoto Yoshinaka's death is depicted in the center, a scene that Tomoe was not present for. The left shows Tomoe Gozen wielding a tree trunk, riding over her enemies. On the right is Wada Yoshimori.
In the above triptych Minamoto Yoshinaka's death is depicted in the center, a scene that Tomoe was not present for. The left shows Tomoe Gozen wielding a tree trunk, riding over her enemies. On the right is Wada Yoshimori.
