20 Facts About Tachibana Ginchiyo

Tachibana Ginchiyo was head of the Japanese Tachibana clan and onna-musha during the Sengoku period.

Tachibana Ginchiyo was a daughter of Tachibana Dosetsu, a powerful retainer of the Otomo clan.

Tachibana Ginchiyo was the daughter of Tachibana Dosetsu, a powerful samurai known as "Lightning God".

Tachibana Ginchiyo was personally named by her father, with the name more or less meaning "one who would not listen idly to others".

Tachibana Ginchiyo succeeded her father and led the clan in a period of difficulty at only 16 years old.

Tachibana Ginchiyo inherited her father's interests such as the status of castellan, territory, belongings and the famous sword Raikiri.

Tachibana Ginchiyo recruited women to become her elite guard and trained all the maidens of the castle in warfare skills to intimidate visitors and to protect it if other clans attacked her domain.

Tachibana Ginchiyo's wishes were respected and Ginchiyo became the lord of the Tachibana clan.

The Tachibana Ginchiyo forces were eventually forced to flee during the Kyushu Campaign.

Tachibana Ginchiyo castle fell to Hideyoshi, who entrusted it to Kobayakawa Takakage.

Tachibana Ginchiyo was given Yanagawa castle in Chikugo province, and after this the Tachibana became an independent clan.

Tachibana Ginchiyo lived separately from Muneshige, who stayed at Yanagawa Castle.

The Tachibana Ginchiyo clan fought in the Siege of Odawara, the battle that unified Japan, under Hideyoshi's name.

Tachibana Ginchiyo first opposed Muneshige's decision to join the Western army.

Tachibana Ginchiyo led a group of family samurai and servants to meet him.

Tachibana Ginchiyo faced them alone while wearing armor at the Siege of Yanagawa and protected the rearguard of Muneshige to escape.

The Tachibana Ginchiyo family was deprived of their domains in the aftermath of Mitsunari's defeat.

Muneshige thanked Tachibana Ginchiyo for helping him in battle and they both went their own way.

Tachibana Ginchiyo lived in the residence of Ichizo, the local farmer of Tamana, Higo Province.

Tachibana Ginchiyo's death marked the end of the bloodline of her father, Tachibana Dosetsu.