Born: 23 September 1569, Japan
Died: 30 November 1602
Country most active: Japan
Also known as: 立花 誾千代
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Tachibana Ginchiyo (立花 誾千代) was a renowned onna-musha (female warrior) during Japan’s Sengoku period. She inherited leadership of the Tachibana clan at the age of 6 with the sword Raikiri (雷切, Lightning Cutter). She recruited women to form her elite guard and trained the castle’s maidens in warfare skills to protect her domain. Tachibana Ginchiyo defended her clan and castle and allied with Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Kyushu Campaign. Later in life, she became a Buddhist nun, marking the end of her family’s bloodline. Ginchiyo is a notable figure in Japanese history and has been depicted in popular culture.