What I've been told (this might not be true) is that the naginata is a chosen weapon for women and monks, partly because of real or perceived physical limitations, but also because if you're a woman or a monk, you have commitments other than weapons training.
The most famous female samurai out there was Tomoe Gozen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomoe_Gozen) whom I've seen represented using a naginata probably due to later prejudice since she's mostly supposed to have used a sword (these would have been tachi, so vaguely larger and less well made than katana), but there were others.
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dancing_serpent
(no subject)
Date: 2014-06-06 07:02 pm (UTC)The most famous female samurai out there was Tomoe Gozen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomoe_Gozen) whom I've seen represented using a naginata probably due to later prejudice since she's mostly supposed to have used a sword (these would have been tachi, so vaguely larger and less well made than katana), but there were others.
Yes...
Date: 2014-06-06 07:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-06-09 01:51 am (UTC)Well...
Date: 2014-06-09 01:53 am (UTC)Re: Well...
Date: 2014-06-09 01:57 am (UTC)Re: Well...
Date: 2014-06-09 02:03 am (UTC)It might also be helpful to look up onna-bugeisha.
Re: Well...
Date: 2014-06-09 02:09 am (UTC)Re: Well...
Date: 2014-06-16 01:08 am (UTC)Re: Well...
Date: 2014-06-16 01:25 am (UTC)