Armor of the samurai: names, description, purpose. Samurai sword

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. Unique appearance and curious techniques of production were developed over many centuries.

Oldest Armor

Samurai armor could not arise from nowhere. She had an important precursor-prototype - a tank, used before the VIII century. Translated from Japanese, this word means "short armor." The basis of the tank was an iron cuirass, consisting of separate metal strips. Outwardly it resembled a primitive leather corset. Tanko was held on the body of the warrior due to a characteristic narrowing in the waist part.

This armor embodied many ideas that were developed in the Middle Ages in the form of classical samurai armor. But there were primitive shortcomings in tanko. So the features of the design did not allow him to use it in equestrian combat, since it was extremely inconvenient to sit on a horse in such clothes. In addition, this armor had no leggings.

O-yoy

The originality, which distinguished the armor of the samurai, developed for a variety of reasons. The most important was the isolation of Japan from the outside world. This civilization has developed quite isolated even in relation to its neighbors - China and Korea. Such a feature of Japanese culture affected national weapons and armor.

Classical medieval armor in the Land of the Rising Sun is considered o-yoy. This name can be translated as "big armor". By its design, it was a lamellar (that is, a plastic type). In Japanese, such armor was generally called kozan-do. They were made from interwoven plates. As a raw material, a thick chipped skin or iron was used.

Features of lamellar armor

Plates have been the backbone of almost all Japanese armor for a very long time. True, this fact did not abolish the fact that their production and some of their characteristics changed depending on the date on the calendar. For example, during the classical era of Gempei (the end of the 12th century), only large plates were used. They were quadrangles with a length of 6 and a width of 3 centimeters.

13 holes were made in each plate. They had two vertical rows. The number of holes in each of them differed (6 and 7, respectively), so the upper edge had a characteristic inclined shape. Laces were threaded into the holes. They connected each other to 20-30 plates. With this simple manipulation, flexible horizontal strips were obtained. They were covered with a special varnish made from the juice of plants. The treatment with the mortar gave the bands extra flexibility, which differed from all the then armor of the samurai. The laces that connected the plates, according to tradition, made colorful, thanks to which the armor received a recognizable colorful look.

Cuirass

The main part of the armor about-yoy was a cuirass. Its design was remarkable for its originality. The belly of the samurai was horizontally closed by four rows of plates. These bands almost completely wrapped around the body, leaving a small gap on the back. The design was connected by means of an all-metal plate. She was fastened with clasps.

The upper part of the back and the chest of the warrior were covered by several more stripes and a metal plate with a characteristic semicircular cutout. It was necessary for free turns of the neck. Separately, leather shoulder straps were attached. Particular attention was paid to places with fasteners. They were the most vulnerable parts of the armor, so they covered with additional plates.

Skin use

Every metal plate was covered with smoked thick skin. For each outfit, several pieces were made from it, the largest of which covered the entire front part 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 stained with a stencil. Most often used contrasting blue and red colors. In the Heian period (VIII-XII centuries), drawings could depict geometric (rhombus) and heraldic (lion) figures. Floral ornaments were also common. During the periods of Kamakura (XII-XIV centuries) and Nambokute (XIV century), Buddhist images and drawings of dragons began to appear. In addition, geometric figures disappeared.

Another example of how the Samurai armor evolved is the breast plates. In the Heian period, their upper edge acquired an elegant curved shape. Each such metal plate was decorated with copper plated overlays of various shapes (for example, the silhouette of a chrysanthemum could be depicted).

Shoulders and Legguards

The name "big armor" was fixed for the samurai o-yo armor thanks to the characteristic wide shoulder-straps and legguards. They gave the uniform an original look, with nothing like it. Legguards were made from all 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. Side Legguards best defended the hips of the samurai, sitting in the horse's saddle. Front and rear are the most mobile, because, otherwise, they could interfere with walking.

The most noticeable and exotic part of the Japanese armor was the shoulder pads. Analogues they were not anywhere, including in Europe. Historians believe that the shoulder-pads appeared as a modification of the shields, widespread in the army of the state of Yamato (III-VII centuries). They really had a lot in common. In this row, you can identify a significant width and a flat form of shoulder pads. They were tall enough and could even injure a person with an active waving of their hands. To exclude such cases, the edges of the shoulder pads became rounded. Thanks to the original design solutions, these armor details were quite mobile despite their false cumbersome appearance.

Kabuto

Japanese helmets were called kabuto. Its characteristic features were large rivets and a hemispherical shape of the hood. Samurai armor not only protected its owner, they also had decorative meaning. The helmet in this sense was no exception. On its back surface was a copper ring, to which was hung a bow of silk. For a long time this accessory served as an identification mark on the battlefield. In the 16th century a banner was attached to the back.

A raincoat could have joined the ring on the helmet. When riding fast on a horse, this cape waved like a sail. Made it from a fabric of deliberately bright colors. In order for the helmet to hold firmly to the head, the Japanese used special chin straps.

Clothes under armor

Under the armor, the soldiers traditionally wore a Hitatare costume. This hiking dress consisted of two parts - wide trousers and jackets with long sleeves. The clothes had no fasteners, they tied it with laces. Legs below the knees were closed with gaiters. They made them from pieces of rectangular cloth sewn on the back surface. Clothes necessarily decorated with images of birds, flowers and insects.

On the sides the suit had wide cuts, necessary for free movement. The bottom garment was a kimono from underpants and jackets. As in the case of armor, this part of the wardrobe showed social status. Rich feudal lords had a silk kimono, while less noble warriors managed a kimono made of cotton cloth.

Foot armor

If o-yoi was intended primarily for equestrian combat, then another type of armor, pre-maru, was used by infantry. Unlike a larger analogue, it could be worn alone, without assistance. Initially, pre-maru appeared as an armor used by the servants of the feudal lord. When in the Japanese army there were pedestrian samurai, they adopted this type of armor.

Do-maru was distinguished by less rigid plaiting of plates. Modest became the size of his shoulder pads. He was buttoned on his right side, dispensing with no additional plate (previously extremely common). Since this armor was used by infantry, an easy skirt was 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, as never before, the way of life of the samurai changed radically. Innovations could not but affect the armor. At first appeared its transitional version - mogami-do. He absorbed the features peculiar to the former Do-Maru, but differed from them by the greater rigidity of the design.

Further progress in military affairs led to the fact that samurai armor of the Sengoku era once again raised the bar of quality and reliability of armor. After the appearance of a new type of maru-do, the former do-maru quickly ceased to be popular and received the brand of useless baubles.

Maru-do

In 1542 the Japanese got acquainted with firearms. Soon began its mass production. The new weapon showed its extreme effectiveness in the important for the history of Japan battle of Nagasino in 1575. Shots of the arquebuses in crowds smashed the samurai, dressed in lamellar armor of small plates. It was then that there was a need for a fundamentally new armor.

Soon the appeared maru-do according to the European classification belonged to the laminar armor. In contrast to lamellar competitors, it was made of large transverse solid bands. The new armor not only increased the level of reliability, but also preserved the mobility so important in combat.

The secret of the maru-do success was that the Japanese masters managed to achieve the effect of the distribution of the weight of armor. Now she did not squeeze her shoulders. Part of the weight fell on the hips, which made it possible to feel unusually comfortable in the laminar armor. Breastplate, helmet and shoulder pads were improved. The upper part of the breast received enhanced protection. Externally maru-do simulated lamellar armor, that is, it looked like it was made of plates.

Bracers and Leggings

The main armor in both the late and early Middle Ages was supplemented with small details. First of all, these were the bracers that covered the hand of the samurai 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 form, and in the region of their wrists they were made round.

It is interesting that at the time of the use of the armor, o-yoi 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. Bracers tightly laced from the inside.

Leggings covered only the front part of the shin. At the back, the leg remained open. Leggings consisted of a single metal plate of curved shape. Like other pieces of equipment, they were decorated with patterns. Usually, gilded paint was used, with the help of which horizontal strips or chrysanthemums were drawn. Japanese leggings were short in length. They reached only the lower edge of the knee. On the leg, these armor details were held by two knotted wide bands.

Sword of the Samurai

The blade weapons of the Japanese warriors evolved parallel with the armor. His first incarnation was Tati. He was hanging from his belt. For greater safety, the Tati was wrapped in a special cloth. The length of his blade was 75 centimeters. This samurai sword had a curved shape.

In the course of the gradual evolution of the Tati in the 15th century, katana appeared. It was used until the XIX century. A remarkable feature of the katana was the characteristic tempering line, which appeared due to the use of a unique Japanese method of forging. To tighten the handle of this sword used skate skin. On top of her, she was wrapped in a ribbon of silk. In the shape of a katana it resembled a European checker, but at the same time it had a straight and long handle, convenient for a two-handed grip. The sharp end of the blade allowed them to not only cut, but also piercing blows. In the hands of such a samurai sword was a formidable weapon.