Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-06-10
JAPAN ONCE HAD AMAzoNs.
Three Generations Ago Islands Women
Were Fighters.

Three Generations Ago Islands Women
Were Fighters.
The letters sent by the war corre-
spondents from Toxic are full OF
praise Of the Spartan courage and res
olution shown by the Japanese women
at the present crisis Of their country's
fortunes. They send their husbands.
sons, brothers and sweethearts to the
front with smile upon their lips; they
tell them to be proud Of the chance to
die for the Mikado; they tell them that
they must think only Of their duty and
not of the girls they leave behind
them.
The Spartan spirit has been culti-
waited in the women of Japan more than
1000 years, until it has become second
nature to them. In olden days Japan
produced fine crop of Amazon war
riors, whose exploits live in history and
provide subjects for those delicately
beautiful color prints Of Toyokuni and
Hlyodoshi which are now so popular
among American artists and art COL
lectors. Nowadays Japanese women do
not go to war except as Red Cross
nurses, although several Of them dis
guised as soldiers tried to be sent to
fight against China, 2I:. according to
the Japanese newspapers many In the
country parts have applied to enlist
against Russia, but, although they have
to stay quietly at home, it is evident
that the fighting spirit inherited from
generations Of warlike ancestors on
both sides is as keen as ever.
Japanese girls who seem so meek
and tender and loving that the foreign
er would never dream Of associating
thought Of violence and bloodshed with
them, are taught from their earliest
childhood to reverence the Empress
lingo, who conquered Korea, and are
told all about the brave deeds of other
Amazons who are distinguished in ia
panese history.
Most Famous Amazon.
Ushiwaka was one Of the most ia
nous of these female warriors. She
lived in the Middle Ages Of Japan and
no man could stand against her In sin
gle combat She is generally repre-
sented in the color prints as vanquish-
ing at the same moment three redoubt-
able samurai, Sangoku Kuro, Yanashi-
ta Kuro and Surihari Taro. Another
noted Amazon was the Lady Kuryo,
who donned the full armor Of a sa-
mural and went out to battle in order
to have revenge on the man who had
killed her husband. After many excit-
ing adventures and desperate encount-
ers she eventually slew him in hand
to-hand fight.
She was captured by party Of his
"samurai," bound hand and foot, and
taken to his palace. But one Of the
young men, who had fallen in love
with her for her beauty and courage,
secretly cut the bonds at night when
she was awaiting judgment. She stay
ed in the garden Of the palace all night,
armed with a sword which she had
picked up when her bonds were cut.
In the morning, as she expected, her
husbands murderer came out into the
garden to pay his devotions to the hon
orable bamboo which imprisoned the
spirits Of his ancestors. Like a good
Shintoist, she allowed him to perform
them in peace, and then walked from
behind a concealing clump Of bushes
and offered him the alternative Of COM
mitting "harikari'' or engaging her in
mortal combat. He chose the latter
and was slain. According to one Jap
anese chronicler, the woman cut his
head clean off by the first strong,
sweeping blow Of her sword.
Story of Faithful Wife.
Ishi, the wife Of Oboshi Yuranosuke,
leader of the forty-seven ronins, who
avenged the death Of their lord and
then committed "harikari" at his tomb
in a body, was another strong-minded
woman who is held up to the admira-
ton of all Japanese girls. When her
husband departed on his fateful enter
prise she told her son, Rokiya, lad of
fifteen, that he must so with his faith
er and show piety for the memory OF
their Lord.
After they had gone she sent the male
servants away and trained her maids
in the art Of swordsmanship, so that
they could help her defend the house
while the men were away. They slew
a band of robbers who attacked them
and kept faithful watch and ward, hop
ing for the masters return. When the
news came that father and son had