There's so much overwhelming evidence of it throughout history, and yet, patriarchal beliefs about the supposed roles and capabilities of women still get in the way. It's absurd how even bodies that clearly have battle wounds and are buried with swords can't possibly be women warriors in some people's minds.

The Japanese have a long history of female samurais - the Onna musha. I don't see why China wouldn't have had something similar, particularly as was noted, that women in many of these early societies didn't typically have the luxury of being ornamental housewives. They did what was necessary and it is definitely past time that was more widely understood and accepted.