Japanese armour

A samurai on horseback wearing (ō-yoroi)

Armour in Japan has a history that goes back as far as the 4th century.[1] Japanese armour developed enormously over the centuries since its introduction to the battlefield and warfare.

History

Antique samurai ō-yoroi armour from the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Japanese armour is thought to have evolved from the armour used in ancient China and Korea.[1] Cuirasses and helmets were manufactured in Japan as early as the 4th century.[1] Tankō, worn by foot soldiers and keikō, worn by horsemen were both pre-samurai types of early Japanese cuirass constructed from iron plates connected together by leather thongs.

During the Heian period (794-1185), the Japanese cuirass evolved into the more familiar style of armour worn by the samurai known as the dou or dō. Japanese armour makers started to use leather (nerigawa) and lacquer was used to weather proof the armor parts. By the end of the Heian period the Japanese cuirass had arrived at the shape recognized as being distinctly samurai. Leather and or iron scales were used to construct samurai armours, with leather and eventually silk lace used to connect the individual scales (kozane) which these cuirasses were now being made from.[2]

In the 16th century Japan began trading with Europe during what would become known as the Nanban trade. Samurai acquired European armour including the cuirass and comb morion which they modified and combined with domestic armour as it provided better protection from the newly introduced matchlock muskets known as Tanegashima. The introduction of the tanegashima by the Portuguese in 1543[3] changed the nature of warfare in Japan causing the Japanese armour makers to change the design of their armours from the centuries-old lamellar armours to plate armour constructed from iron and steel plates which was called tosei gusoku (new armours).[4] Bullet resistant armours were developed called tameshi gusoku or (bullet tested)[5] allowing samurai to continue wearing their armour despite the use of firearms.

The era of warfare called the Sengoku period ended around 1600, Japan was united and entered the peaceful Edo period, samurai continued to use both plate and lamellar armour as a symbol of their status but traditional armours were no longer necessary for battles. During the Edo period light weight, portable and secret hidden armours became popular as there was still a need for personal protection. Civil strife, duels, assassinations, peasant revolts required the use of armours such as the kusari katabira (chain armour jacket) and armoured sleeves as well as other types of armour which could be worn under ordinary clothing.[6] Edo period samurai were in charge of internal security and would wear various types of kusari gusoku (chain armour) and shin and arm protection as well as forehead protectors (hachi-gane).[7]

Armour continued to be worn and used in Japan until the end of the samurai era (Meiji period) in the 1860s, with the last use of samurai armour happening in 1877 during the Satsuma Rebellion.[8]

Nanban dou (dō) gusoku, a Japanese (samurai) suit of armour with a western-style cuirass (dou or dō) made of plate armour. Tokyo National Museum.

Construction

Construction of samurai armour, Source Wendelin Boeheim Leipzig 1890:
1. Cuirass - dō (胴(仏胴))
2. Fauld - kusazuri (草摺)
3. Cuisse - haidate (佩楯)
4. Poleyn - tateage (立挙)
5. Greaves - suneate (臑当(篠臑当))
6. Sabaton - kōgake (甲懸)
7. Spaulders - sode (袖(当世袖))
8. Vambrace - kote (籠手(篠籠手))
9. Gauntlets - tekkō (手甲(摘手甲))
10. Helm - kabuto (兜(日根野形頭形兜))
11. Badge (helmet) - kasa-jirushi (笠印)
12. Forehead plate - mabisashi (眉庇)
13. Lame - fukikaeshi (吹返)
14. Neck guard - shikoro (しころ(日根野しころ))
15. Crest (here: water buffalo horns) - wakidate (立物(水牛の脇立))
16. Crest (here: sun disk) - maedate (立物(日輪の前立))
17. Faceplate - menpō or mempō (面頬(目の下頬))
18. Badge (shoulder) - sode-jirushi (垂)
19. Bevor - yodare-kake (襟廻)

Japanese armour was generally constructed from many small bamboo staves (tetsu) and/or leather (nerigawa) scales (kozane) and/or plates (ita-mono), connected to each other by rivets and macramé cords (odoshi) made from leather and/or braided silk, and/or chain armour (kusari). Noble families had silk cords made in specific patterns and colors of silk thread. Many of these cords were constructed of well over 100 strands of silk. Making these special silk cords could take many months of steady work, just to complete enough for one suit of armour. These armor bamboo plates were usually attached to a cloth or leather backing. Japanese armour was designed to be as lightweight as possible (thus the use of bamboo) as the samurai had many tasks including riding a horse and archery in addition to swordsmanship. The armour was usually brightly lacquered to protect against the harsh Japanese climate. Chain armour (kusari) was also used to construct individual armour pieces and full suits of kusari were even used.[9]

Individual armour parts

A full suit of traditional Samurai armour could include the following items:

Auxiliary armours

Clothing worn with Japanese armour

Auxiliary items worn with Japanese armour

Types

Pre-samurai armour

Kozane armour

Kozane dou (dō) gusoku, are samurai armours with a lamellar cuirass constructed from individual scales (kozane), old fashioned armours used before the introduction of firearms in Japanese warfare (pre-Sengoku styles).[10][11]

  • O-yoroi, old style dou (dō) for mounted samurai, constructed with hon kozane (small individual scales).
  • Dō-maru, old style dou (dō) constructed with (dō), old style dou (dō) that opened in the back, constructed with hon kozane (small individual scales), later period haramaki dou (dō) were made with armour plates.
  • Hon kozane dou (dō) (small individual scales)
  • Hon-iyozane dou (dō) or Nuinobe dou (dō) (large individual scales).

Tosei-gusoku

Tosei dou (dō) gusoku the so-called "modern armours" made from iron plates (ita-mono)[12] instead of individual scales (kozane). Tosei-gusoku became prominent starting in the 1500s due to the advent of fire arms, new fighting tactics and the need for additional protection.[4][13]

  • Okegawa Dou (dō) gusoku - (tub-sided), refers to the tub-like shape of the dou (dō). There are two types of okegawa dou (dō): yokohagi (horizontal lames), and tatehagi (vertical lames).
  • Hishinui dou (dō) or Hishi-toji dou (dō) - chest armours with rows of prominent cross knots, usually an okegawa dou (dō).
  • Munemenui dou (dō) or Unamenui dou (dō) - chest armours with a running stitch that goes horizontally across the surface of the dou (dō). This stitch of lacing runs along the surface of the lame looking like a dotted line paralleling the top.
  • Dangae dou (dō) gusoku - meaning "step-changing", a combination of two or more styles.
  • Hotoke dou (dō) gusoku - chest armor which is smooth and shows no signs of lames.
  • Nio dou (dō) - embossed to resemble the emaciated torso of a starving monk or old man.
  • Katahada-nugi dou (dō) - embossed to resemble a half-naked torso.
  • Yukinoshita or Sendai dou (dō) - five plate, four hinge (go-mai) chest armor in the sendai or yukinoshita style.
  • Hatomune dou (dō) gusoku - (pigeon-breast chest armour or cuirass) were inspired by European peascod breastplate armour. Hatomune dou (dō) have a sharp central ridge running vertically down the front.
  • Uchidashi dou (dō) gusoku - Embossed or hammered out relief on the front.
  • Nanban dou (dō) gusoku — Armour made on the base of late European armour
  • Mōgami dou (dō) - five-plate, four hinge (go mai) chest armours with solid lames which are laced with sugake odoshi instead of being riveted.

Other types

Individual samurai armor parts

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Farris, William Wayne (1998). Sacred Texts and Buried Treasures: Issues in the Historical Archaeology of Ancient Japan. Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press. p. 75. ISBN 0824820304. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  2. Robinson, H. Russell (2013). Oriental Armour. Courier Corporation. p. 173. ISBN 9780486174921. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  3. Lidin, Olof G. (2003). Tanegashima - The Arrival of Europe in Japan. Routledge. ISBN 9781135788711. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  4. 1 2 Sinclaire, Clive (2004). Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior (1st Lyons Press ed.). Guilford, Conn.: Globe Pequot Press. p. 32. ISBN 1592287204. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  5. Absolon, Trevor; Thatcher, David (2011). Samurai Armour: The Watanabe Art Museum, Samurai Armour Collection. Victoria, B.C.: Toraba Samurai Art. p. 78. ISBN 9780986761508. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  6. Ratti, Oscar; Westbrook, Adele (1991). Secrets of the Samurai; A Survey of the Martial Arts of Feudal Japan (1st pbk. ed.). Rutland, Vt.: C.E. Tuttle Co. p. 196. ISBN 0804816840. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  7. Cunningham, Don; Hashimoto, Rich (2004). Taiho-Jutsu: Law and Order in the Age of the Samurai (1st ed.). Boston: Tuttle Pub. p. 45. ISBN 0804835365. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  8. Sinclaire, Clive (2004). Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior (1st Lyons Press ed.). Guilford, Conn.: Globe Pequot Press. p. 49. ISBN 1592287204. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  9. George Cameron Stone (2 July 1999). A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor: In All Countries and in All Times. Courier Dover Publications. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-486-40726-5. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
  10. Yamagami, Hachirō (1940). Japan's Ancient Armour. Japan: Board of Tourist Industry, Japanese Government Railways. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  11. Bryant, Anthony J.; McBride, Angus (1991). Early Samurai: 200-1500 AD. London: Osprey. p. 47. ISBN 1855321319. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  12. Robinson, H. Russell (2002). Oriental Armor. Mineola, N.Y.: Dover Publications. p. 190. ISBN 0486418189. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  13. Deal, William E. (2005). Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. New York NY: Facts On File. p. 171. ISBN 0816056226. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  14. 1 2 Stone, George Cameron; LaRocca, Donald J. (1999). A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor: in All Countries and in All Times. Mineola, N.Y.: Dover Publications. p. 70. ISBN 0486407268. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  15. Ian Bottomley & A.P. Hopson "Arms and Armor of the Samurai: The History of Weaponry in Ancient Japan" pp.88, 91
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