Samurai armor

The Japanese military culture is older than the Samurai tradition. Ancient Japanese armors of the Kofun (3rd century - 710) and Nara (710-794) epochs were little different from their continental (Chinese, Korean and Central Asian) analogues. Japanese armors of that time known due to archaeological excavations and the preserved paintings were laminar (tanko) hammered from metal plates, and lamellar (keiko) made of small leather and iron plates linked with leather ties. In the 9th century Samurais were archers on horsebacks. In the 9th - 13th century they used leather lamellar armor oyoroi which differed sufficiently from the types of armor used previously. In the 14th - 15th century oyoroi were replaced with more comfortable domaru armors (for noble Samurais) and haramaki) (for foot Samurais asigaru of low rank). The epoch of feudal fragmentation and the mass use of the new tactics led to the appearance of various tosei-gusoki armors which were easier to make and were more durable. Laminar armors riveted from thick durable steel plates (okegawa-do, yukinosita-do, sendai-do) designed to protect a warrior from fire-arms are a variation of tosei-gusoku.

Group of samurai in armors with weapon. Japan. The Japanese. Late 19th cent.		Group of samurai in armors with weapon. Japan. The Japanese. Late 19th cent.		Two sets of armor. Japan. The Japanese.
Set of armor. Japan. The Japanese.		Set of armor. Japan. The Japanese, 17th-18th cent. (?)		Military commander in armour. Japan. The Japanese, 17th-18th cent.