Samurai Armor

Up to the late 19th century the previous thousand years of Japanese history has been marked by power struggles and civil wars. The fighting was between the Emperor, the Shogun and powerful landowners. During these battles primarily the warrior class, or samurai did the fighting.

Japanese society was ruled by the military and hence martial arts were a very important part of society. The Samurai developed a code of honor that was based on discipline, ritual and symbolism that is known as Bushido or The Way Of The Warrior. The first prototype for Japanese Samurai Armor came about in the form of the yoroi during the Gempei War of 1181-1185. The weight of the yoroi was around 60lb. Samuria's Armor and weaponry developed along the lines of symbolism and practical necessity. From 1603-1868 the Samurai practices were codified and enforced, this was known as the Edo period. Edo, which is now Tokyo, became the center of power taking over from Kyoto. This is one of the last epochs before the Japanese fully embraced Western culture.

Medieval armor went through many changes whereas as Samurai Armor stayed basically the same over the centuries. Samurai Armor is a lamellar type of armor that is constructed of metal or leather plates or lames laced together in overlapping rows. The metal plates were often lacquered since the Japanese didn't like the look of untreated metal. The lames were laced together with rows of textile cord or brocade.

Samurai Armor is made of many pieces and elements. Each piece has a particular name. The plates that protect the torso are called the 'Do'. The plates that protect the thighs are called 'Haidate'. The helmet is called the 'Kabuto'. The helmets normally have horns or blades that are called 'Kuwagata' at the front and a plated neck guard called the 'Shikoro'. The 'Shikoro' is formed from a thick five-plated protector of the back of the head, neck and the cheekbone, which was fastened to the bowl of the helmet. The top four plates of the Shikoro would be upturned to create the 'Fukigaeshi'. The idea of the Fukigaeshi was to prevent the vertical slicing of the Shikoro's horizontal fastening chords. A visor is also on the front of helmet and is known as the 'Mabisashi'. The facemask is called the 'Mempo' or 'Men Gu'. The Mempo is molded to have an angry countenance. The inside of the Mempo is normally lacquered with red so that the reflection from the skin makes the wearer look even fiercer. The plated throat protector is called the 'Yodare Kake' and is attached to the bottom of the Mempo. The overall effect is to make the Samurai look terrifying to his opponents.

Besides being highly functional the Samurai Armor was a work of art. Only the highest military class and emperors wore the armor. The craftsmen that made the armor were of the highest skill. Each piece of the samurai's armor, Kikou (armor), Kabuto (helmet), and Katana (sword) is felt to have its' own soul or chi and personality of its' own.