Japanese samurai armor is one of the most recognizable attributes of the medieval history of the Land of the Rising Sun. They differed markedly from the uniforms of European knights. The unique appearance and curious production techniques have been developed over many centuries.
Ancient Armor
Samurai armor couldn't have come out of nowhere. She had an important predecessor-prototype - the tanko, which was used until the 8th century. Translated from Japanese, this word means "short armor". The basis of the tanko was an iron cuirass, consisting of separate metal strips. Outwardly, it looked like a primitive leather corset. Tanko was kept on the body of a warrior due to the characteristic narrowing in the waist part.
This armor embodies many of the ideas that were developed in the Middle Ages in the form of classic samurai armor. But there were also primitive flaws in tanko. So the design features did not allow it to be used in equestrian combat, since it was extremely uncomfortable to sit on a horse in such attire. In addition, this armor lacked leggings.
Oh-yoroi
The originality that distinguished the armorsamurai, developed for many reasons. The paramount one was the isolation of Japan from the outside world. This civilization developed quite apart even in relation to its neighbors - China and Korea. A similar feature of Japanese culture is reflected in national weapons and armor.
Classic medieval armor in the Land of the Rising Sun is considered an o-yoroi. This name can be translated as "big armor". According to its design, it belonged to the lamellar (that is, plastic type). In Japanese, such armor was generally called kozan-do. They were made from intertwined plates. Thick tanned leather or iron was used as the starting material.
Lamellar armor features
Plates have been the basis of almost all Japanese armor for a very long time. True, this fact did not negate the fact that their production and some of their characteristics changed depending on the date on the calendar. For example, during the classical Gempei era (late 12th century), only large plates were used. They were quadrilaterals 6 cm long and 3 cm wide.
13 holes were made in each plate. They were arranged in two vertical rows. The number of holes in each of them was different (6 and 7, respectively), so the upper edge had a characteristic oblique shape. Laces were threaded through the holes. They interconnected 20-30 records. With the help of such a simple manipulation, flexible horizontal stripes were obtained. They were covered with a special varnish made from plant sap. The treatment with the solution gave the strips additional flexibility, which distinguished all the then samurai armor. The laces that connected the plates were traditionally made in different colors, thanks to which the armor got a recognizable colorful look.
Cirass
The main part of the o-yoroi armor was the cuirass. Its design was notable for its remarkable originality. The belly of the samurai was closed horizontally by four rows of plates. These stripes almost completely wrapped around the body, leaving a small gap on the back. The design was connected using an all-metal plate. She was fastened with clasps.
The upper back and chest of the warrior were covered with several more stripes and a metal plate with a characteristic semicircular neckline. It was necessary for free turns of the neck. Leather shoulder pads attached with straps were made separately. Particular attention was paid to places with fasteners. They were the most vulnerable parts of the armor, so they were covered with additional plates.
Using leather
Every metal plate was covered with smoked thick leather. For each uniform, several pieces were made from it, the largest of which covered the entire front of the warrior's torso. Such a measure was necessary for the convenience of shooting. When using a bow, the bowstring slid over the armor. The skin did not allow her to touch the protruding plates. Such an accident could cost a lot during the battle.
The pieces of leather that covered the samurai armor were dyed withstencil. Contrasting blue and red colors were most often used. In the Heian era (VIII-XII centuries), drawings could depict geometric (rhombuses) and heraldic (lions) figures. Floral ornaments were also common. During the periods of Kamakura (XII-XIV centuries) and Nambokuta (XIV century), Buddhist images and drawings of dragons began to appear. In addition, geometric shapes have disappeared.
Another example of how samurai armor has evolved is chest plates. During the Heian period, their upper edge took on an elegant curved shape. Each such metal plate was decorated with gilded copper overlays of various shapes (for example, the silhouette of a chrysanthemum could be depicted).
Shoulders and Legguards
The name "big armor" was assigned to the samurai armor o-yoroi due to the characteristic wide shoulder pads and legguards. They gave the outfit an original, unlike anything else. Legguards were made from the same horizontal rows of plates (five pieces each). These elements of the armor were connected to the breastplates with the help of pieces of leather covered with patterns. The side legguards best protected the hips of a samurai sitting in a horse saddle. The front and rear ones were distinguished by the greatest mobility, since, otherwise, they could interfere with walking.
The most noticeable and exotic part of Japanese armor was the shoulder pads. They had no analogues anywhere, including in Europe. Historians believe that shoulder pads appeared as a modification of shields,common in the army of the Yamato state (III-VII centuries). They really did have a lot in common. In this row, one can distinguish a significant width and a flat shape of the shoulder pads. They were quite high and could even injure a person when actively waving their arms. To exclude such cases, the edges of the shoulder pads were made rounded. Thanks to the original design solutions, these armor parts were quite mobile despite their false bulky appearance.
Kabuto
Japanese helmets were called kabuto. Its characteristic features were large rivets and a semi-spherical shape of the cap. Samurai armor not only protected its owner, they also had a decorative value. The helmet in this sense was no exception. On its back surface there was a copper ring, to which a silk bow was hung. For quite a long time, this accessory served as an identification mark on the battlefield. In the 16th century, a banner attached to the back appeared.
A cloak could also be attached to the ring on the helmet. When riding fast on a horse, this cape fluttered like a sail. They made it from fabric of deliberately bright colors. In order to keep the helmet securely on the head, the Japanese used special chin straps.
Clothes under armor
Under the armor, warriors traditionally wore a hitatare suit. This hiking dress consisted of two parts - wide trousers and jackets with long sleeves. The clothes did not have fasteners, they were tied with laces. Legs below the knees were covered with gaiters. They made them frompieces of rectangular fabric sewn along the back surface. Clothing was necessarily decorated with images of birds, flowers and insects.
The suit had wide slits on the sides, necessary for free movement. The lowest garment was a kimono of underpants and a jacket. As in the case of armor, this part of the wardrobe showed social status. We althy feudal lords had a silk kimono, while less noble warriors made do with cotton kimonos.
Foot armor
If o-yoroi was intended mainly for mounted combat, then another type of armor, do-maru, was used by infantry. Unlike the larger counterpart, it could be put on alone, without outside help. Initially, the do-maru appeared as an armor used by the servants of the feudal lord. When foot samurai appeared in the Japanese army, they adopted this type of armor.
Do-maru was distinguished by less rigid weaving of the plates. The size of his shoulder pads has also become more modest. It was fastened on the right side, without an additional plate (previously extremely common). Since this armor was used by the infantry, a skirt comfortable for running became an important part of it.
New trends
In the second half of the 15th century, a new era began in the history of Japan - the Sengoku period. At this time, more than ever, the way of life of the samurai changed dramatically. Innovations could not but affect the armor. First, its transitional version appeared - mogami-do. He absorbed the features inherent in the previous do-maru, but differed from them in greater rigidity.designs.
Further progress in military affairs led to the fact that the samurai armor of the Sengoku era once again raised the bar for the quality and reliability of armor. After the appearance of a new type of maru-do, the old do-maru quickly fell out of favor and was stigmatized as a useless trinket.
Maru-do
In 1542, the Japanese got acquainted with firearms. Soon began its mass production. The new weapon proved to be extremely effective at the Battle of Nagashino, important for Japanese history, in 1575. Arquebus shots in droves hit the samurai, dressed in lamellar armor made of small plates. It was then that there was a need for a fundamentally new armor.
The maru-do, which soon appeared, according to the European classification, belonged to laminar armor. Unlike lamellar competitors, it was made from large transverse solid strips. The new armor not only increased the level of reliability, but also retained mobility, which is so important in battle.
The secret to the success of maru-do was that the Japanese masters managed to achieve the effect of distributing the weight of the armor. Now she didn't shrug her shoulders. Part of the weight rested on the hips, which made it unusually comfortable to feel in laminar armor. The cuirass, helmet and shoulder pads have been improved. The upper part of the chest received enhanced protection. Outwardly, maru-do imitated lamellar armor, that is, it looked like it was made of plates.
Braces and Leggings
The main armor, both in the late and early Middle Ages, was supplemented with small details. ATfirst of all, these were bracers that covered the samurai's hand from the shoulder to the base of the fingers. They were made of thick fabric, on which black metal plates were sewn. In the area of the shoulder and forearm, they had an oblong shape, and in the area of the wrist they were made rounded.
Interestingly, at the time of the use of o-yoroi armor, bracers were worn only on the left hand, while the right hand remained free for more convenient archery. With the advent of firearms, this need has disappeared. The bracers were tightly laced on the inside.
The leggings covered only the front part of the lower leg. The back of the leg was left open. Leggings consisted of a single curved metal plate. Like other parts of the equipment, they were decorated with patterns. Usually gilded paint was used, with which horizontal stripes or chrysanthemums were drawn. Japanese leggings were distinguished by their short length. They only reached the lower edge of the knee. On the leg, these parts of the armor were held by two tied wide ribbons.
Samurai sword
Blade weapons of Japanese warriors evolved in parallel with armor. His first incarnation was tati. He hung on his belt. For greater safety, the tachi was wrapped with a special cloth. The length of his blade was 75 centimeters. This samurai sword featured a curved shape.
During the gradual evolution of tati in the 15th century, the katana appeared. It was used until the 19th century. A notable feature of the katana was the characteristic hardening line, whichappeared due to the use of a unique Japanese forging technique. Stingray skin was used to fit the hilt of this sword. From above it was wrapped with a ribbon of silk. The shape of the katana resembled a European checker, but at the same time it was distinguished by a straight and long handle, convenient for a two-handed grip. The sharp end of the blade allowed them to inflict not only cutting, but also stabbing blows. In skillful hands, such a samurai sword was a formidable weapon.
