Very interesting. I will be teaching a course on "Notable Women in Japanese History" this fall, but my list is very personal and idiosyncratic. I presume every historian of Japan will have a different list.
In retirement I teach for a local non-profit educational institute. Over a 7-week term, I will talk about two each week. Here is my list: (1) Amaterasu and Queen Himiko; (2) Empress Jito and Empress Koken/Shotoku; (3) Murasaki Shikibu and Sei Shonagon (focus less on writings than on personalities and the court); (4) Hojo Masako and Yogogimi (Chacha); (5) Nakayama Miki and Deguchi Nao; (6) Niijima Yae and Tsuda Umeko; and (7) Ito Noe and Ichikawa Fusae. I tried to pair similar types and times.
Such an insightful conversation - so often in history there are incredibly influential women wielding power behind the scenes (and they often go unnoticed or uncredited). Great to learn about this from a Japanese history context as well. Thanks for sharing!
Very interesting. I will be teaching a course on "Notable Women in Japanese History" this fall, but my list is very personal and idiosyncratic. I presume every historian of Japan will have a different list.
Probably so - do please share yours, if you have a chance!
In retirement I teach for a local non-profit educational institute. Over a 7-week term, I will talk about two each week. Here is my list: (1) Amaterasu and Queen Himiko; (2) Empress Jito and Empress Koken/Shotoku; (3) Murasaki Shikibu and Sei Shonagon (focus less on writings than on personalities and the court); (4) Hojo Masako and Yogogimi (Chacha); (5) Nakayama Miki and Deguchi Nao; (6) Niijima Yae and Tsuda Umeko; and (7) Ito Noe and Ichikawa Fusae. I tried to pair similar types and times.
Lovely choices! And I like the idea of pairing up to get extra dimensions.
Such an insightful conversation - so often in history there are incredibly influential women wielding power behind the scenes (and they often go unnoticed or uncredited). Great to learn about this from a Japanese history context as well. Thanks for sharing!