Samurai Armour, Volume I: The Japanese Cuirass

705 Pages·2017·108.48 MB·English

by  Trevor Absolon

To my loving wife and children, who patiently missed out on so much without
complaint while they supported me through the writing of this book.
&
In memory of Anthony Bryant, 1961–2013, with whom this book was originally to
have been co-written. I’m sure this book is lacking for your absence, Anthony.
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1: JAPANESE HISTORY AND THE SAMURAI
Prehistoric era to the early 17th century
CHAPTER 2: THE DŌ (CUIRASS)
The foundation of Japanese armour
CHAPTER 3: ANCIENT ARMOUR
Tankō, keikō, uchikake-keikō and men’ōchū, 2nd century BC–9th
century AD
CHAPTER 4: EARLY FORMS OF SAMURAI ARMOUR
Yoroi, dō-maru, maru-dō, haramaki and hara-ate, 10th–15th
centuries
CHAPTER 5: PRE-MODERN DŌ DESIGNS
The Mōgami, nuinobe and tatami methods, late 15th–16th
centuries
CHAPTER 6: TOSEI-DŌ MODERN CUIRASS DESIGNS, PART I
Yokohagi-okegawa and related styles of dō, 16th century onward
CHAPTER 7: TOSEI-DŌ MODERN CUIRASS DESIGNS, PART II
Tatehagi-okegawa and related styles of dō, 16th century onward
CHAPTER 8: TOSEI-DŌ MODERN CUIRASS DESIGNS, PART
III
Ashigaru, tatami and variations
CHAPTER 9: COMING FULL CIRCLE
The revival of ancient armour styles, 17th–19th centuries
CHAPTER 10: THE WESTERNIZATION OF JAPANESE
ARMOUR
19th–early 20th centuries
NOTES
BIBLIOGRAPHY
IMAGE SOURCES
GLOSSARY
INDEX
FOREWORD
A very high quality mid-17th century kebiki odoshi hon kozane ni-mai-dō gusoku that was made for a senior member of
the powerful Matsudaira clan, who were closely related with the ruling Tokugawa Shōguns.
It is indeed an honour and pleasure to be asked by Trevor Absolon to write a
foreword for his new publication. I have known Trevor for nearly ten years and
during that time he collaborated with me on an exhibition in 2010 which focused
on samurai arms and armour at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria in British
Columbia, Canada. He generously loaned many examples from his own collection
and kindly offered his expertise for making the exhibition a major success with the
public. Trevor has also donated some important samurai paraphernalia to our art
museum including a magnificent helmet (kabuto), a face protector (menpo), sections
of armour and four important samurai banners/standards (sashimono).
Trevor Absolon’s book provides a new and refreshing look at the military history
of Japan and the improvement of samurai armour through the ages. His absorbing
examination of a complex theme provides us not only with a wealth of knowledge
but also much new and interesting research material. The book makes a serious
attempt to trace the development, influences, exchanges and the perfection of early
Japan’s protective armour, and is vital to understanding the subject. Trevor’s new
perspectives and spontaneous writing style provide us with a fascinating read. It will
no doubt become an important reference book in the future for all those who love
the subject matter of Japan’s great warriors, the samurai.
Trevor’s wonderful historical narrative is accompanied by a brilliant array of
works of art and detailed illustrations of samurai armour. He has chosen the images
well, not only for their beauty and story-telling but also in the case of armour for its
practical usage in battle and for its symbolism and pageantry. Connoisseurs of the
military arts will no doubt be satisfied with this marvellous presentation. I warmly
and enthusiastically recommend this book.
Barry Till
Curator of Asian Art (1981–2017) Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, British
Columbia, Canada