Ōyoroi Armor with Red Thread Lacing and Ornaments of Bamboo, Tigers, and Sparrows

【National treasure】

Ōyoroi Armor with Red Thread Lacing and Ornaments of Bamboo, Tigers, and Sparrows

This fourteenth-century suit of ōyoroi is considered one of the finest examples of ceremonial armor. The armor’s visual impact is created by many finely crafted details, such as its broad helmet ornament (kuwagata), vibrant red lacing, and high-relief gold decorations. The armor’s unprotected chest piece indicates its ceremonial use, but the alternating strips of lacquered leather and iron would still have provided considerable protection.

Each shoulder guard is adorned with a tiger sitting in a bamboo grove. Tigers were symbols of strong leadership, and the pairing of tiger and bamboo is an auspicious motif symbolizing strength and resilience. Since there were no tigers in Japan, artisans had to reference paintings from China and the Korean Peninsula when designing the adornments.

The pair of sternum guards attached to the chest were made to fit the specific motion of drawing a bow. The left guard was fashioned from a solid metal plate to protect the side of the archer’s chest, which was exposed as they raised their arms and aimed. In contrast, the right guard was made from flexible rows of leather and iron strips to allow the maximum range of movement.

この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。