Image from the official webisite of the Japan: Courts and Culture exhibition
This week we visited the Japan Courts and Culture Exhibition at the Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace. This exhibition explores the British Royal family encountered with Japan over 350 years.
Image from Japan: Courts and Culture official website
The above images showed one of the exhibition's dōmaru or 'body wrap'. This armour was given to Prince George of Wales by Emperor Meiji during his visit to Japan in 1881 and exhibited at the Tower of London's 1965 'Exhibition of Japanese Armour,'
Dōmaru is a type of Japanese chest armour. It originated in the mid-Heian period and is a form of armour suitable for fighting on foot. Removing the doeskin covering (tsurubashiri*) on the cuirass (dō) marked a significant departure from earlier, heavier armour. Another change was the replacement of the sendan-no-ita and kyūbi-no ita gyōyō (armour-plated armpit protectors) protective fittings for the cuirass toggles.
The sixteenth century in Japanese history was marked by political upheaval, warlordism, and nearly constant military conflicts, resulting in significant changes in armour and battle tactics. Previously, higher-ranking samurai fought primarily on horseback and wore a type of armour designed specifically for this purpose: the heavy box-shaped Ō-yoroi**. However, in the turbulent sixteenth century, even warlords had to be prepared to fight on foot and thus favoured lighter, closer fitting armours such as dōmaru, which allowed for much greater freedom of movement than the Ō-yoroi.
Interestingly, this armour has earlier fittings rather than gyōyō. This may reflect the revival of a nationalistic spirit in Japan around 1800, which harkened back to the 'Golden Age' of the samurai in the Kamakura (1185-1333) and Nambokuch (1333-92) periods.
It was unworn and kept beautifully as a gift to the Royal family. Unlike the armours I have seen on display in Japanese castles and museums.
For example, the Akaitodoshiyoroi (赤絲威鎧) exhibited at the Oyamazumi Shrine Treasure Hall in Ehime. It is the only surviving example of this unique form of armour, which combines features of both Ō-yoroi and dōmaru.
And, Kindami gusoku (金陀美具足) which Tokugawa Ieyasu is said to have worn this armour to victory in the outpost at the Battle of Okehazama at the age of 19, in 1560. The armour was kept in Edo Castle during the Edo period. It was transferred to the Kunozan Toshogu Museum during the Meiji period. It was severely damaged and was not exhibited until 2016 after it was repaired.
*Tsurubashiri (Armor breastplate) refers to a piece of deerskin applied to the front of the body. It was applied to prevent the bowstring from catching on the small fuda that made up the body when the bowstring was drawn.
**Ō-yoroi is a form of Japanese armour and armour. It was created and developed during the Heian - Kamakura period (794-1185), when mounted warfare was the norm, and was worn mainly by high-ranking samurai on horseback.
References
【刀剣ワールド】カテゴリ「鎧の部品」用語一覧
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