Armour Organization!

[PROMETHEUS ts]

Here is a summary of the Japanese Armour terms and so should be used in describing units ....

Informations taken by this site ....

http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/katchu/katchu.html

Anthony J. Bryant

[PROMETHEUS ts]

The DO

The last half of the sixteenth century is often called the Sengoku Jidai, or Age of Battles. During this period of nearly incessant warfare, various daimyô vied for power and domination over their neighbors and rivals. Some even sought the ultimate prize of becoming the tenkabito, or ruler of the land. Only two people during this age were able to achieve something close to that: Oda Nobunaga (1534–1582) and Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536–1598).

These five decades saw more developments, innovations, and refinements with armour than all the previous five centuries. Armour underwent a sort of entropy: from fully-laced scales, to sparse-laced scales, to sparse-laced lames, to riveted lames, to solid plates. Each of these steps meant the armours were cheaper and quicker to build than the models that came before them.

One of the greatest influences on armour in this period was the matchlock arquebus, called in Japanese teppô, tanegashima, or hinawa-jû (the first term was probably the most frequently met with in Period.) This necessitated heavier, shot-proof armours for those who could afford them. To this end, solid cuirasses of heavy, thick plates appeared on the scene. Many surviving examples have multiple proof marks indicative of the armourer's skill.
Three armours typical of the sengoku period
Three armours of the late 16th century. All are ni-mai dô (clamshell armours).


It has been suggested by some armour historians that the solidly riveted clamshell cuirasses — and cuirasses of single-plate breast-and-back construction -- were inspired by the European armours. Be that as it may, it was nevertheless the next logical step in the development of Japanese armour.

Armours of European origin and those modeled on European armours became popular status symbols. These armours were, of course, highly modified to suit Japanese tastes until virtually only the cuirass and helmet remained. Even these were“Japanified.” To the cuirass was added Japanese-style skirtplates, and the helmet was turned back-to-front and a lamellar nape guard was added.

Samurai had a great many styles to choose from when it came to arm and leg armour. This period, more than any other, provided true variety, both in terms of actual style and in terms of decoration. For changes in the cuirass, see the chapter“The Dô.”



More and more troops on the field in armour resulted in greater need to identify friend and foe. In the latter half of the century, the advent of a banner worn on the back served to help identify troops in battle. This banner was called a sashimono. Its pole went through a holder between the shoulder blades and was held by a receptacle at the small of the back. Other methods included painting the warrior's crest -- or the lord's crest -- on the center of the dô. This was common with retainer armours, and only very rarely met with on armours worn by men of rank. Men of rank were usually distinguished by the ornate and exotic ways they decorated or constructed their helmets. This is so much part of Japanese history that often in films these days all that need be done is to show a helmet and the owner is identified.




My suiggested Do Styles for the period :


in time order....


for early troops

Haramaki dô

http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/katchu/.../haramBush.jpg


for later troops

low ranks


Tatami Dô

http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/katchu/...s/tatamido.jpg

high ranks



Do Maru

http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/katchu/...phs/domaru.jpg

mogami dô

http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/katchu/...s/mogamido.jpg

hotoke dô

http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/katchu/...s/hotokedo.jpg

Nuinobe Dô

http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/katchu/...hs/nuinobe.jpg

okegawa dô


http://www.sengokudaimyo.com/katchu/...gawaretain.jpg

[Trega]

they had some cool looking armor back then

[fallingstar]

they had some cool looking armor back then

Don't you mean cool and effective/

[Wild Bill Kelso]

I made a few scans from and armour book I got from my library:

http://photobucket.com/albums/y263/Champon/armour/

[TomteOfDoom]

Nice scans Wild Bill, I especially enjoyed pic. 30, thats 3 fine examples of the very upper layer of edo era armor-craft. :laughing: Be amused but not inspired gentlemen. :wink:

[Asean]

Here is a picture of armours worn in the movie "The Last Samurai".... maybe it's not accurate, but they look pretty good.

http://lastsamurai.warnerbros.com/wa...10&iWidth=1280

What about a helmet with Horns? (Maybe used for generals?)

[Slim_Ghost]

Speaking of the movie, the civil war-ish soldiers tremble in fear before the charge of the samurai cavalry. Perhaps the samurai armor was also designed to intimidate the enemy.

[TomteOfDoom]

Well that is true, those who could afford it put money into giving their armour spectacular and fearsome designs. Monstrous face masks(Menpô) and spectacular helmet designs(Kawari kabuto ). Some of the actual body armour(dõ) was also shaped out to look anything from horrendous to awe-inspiring. The starving monk belly(Niô-dô) is a common example. All these touches likely assisted in inspiring fear and admiration from common men. If not, it was still a mean to advertise the wearers stature, and on the battlefield, recognition of leaders was important.