【National treasure】
Dōmaru Armor with Black Leather Lacing and Yahazu Iron Strips
This set of armor dates from the fourteenth century. It is constructed of notched iron strips called yahazu. Starting in the mid- to late 1300s, this innovative design became increasingly common in infantry armor.
Dōmaru is a type of lamellar armor, so called for the thin rectangular strips of lacquered leather or iron, called “lames,” which were laced together to form the armor. Lacing together these hundreds or (for larger suits) thousands of strips was a lengthy process. For example, a record from the early 900s describes a suit of armor made from 800 strips that required around 250 days to complete. Yahazu-style strips, such as those seen here, are especially wide. This, together with the characteristic “U” shape at their tops, reduced the number of strips needed for a full suit of armor. The resulting armor was lighter, cheaper, and faster to produce, which proved to be a significant advantage as armies grew larger and battles lasted longer.
The helmet is lined with a layer of woven cattail leaves for additional cushioning. The helmet of the Ōyoroi Armor with Red-Thread Lacing and Ornaments of Bamboo, Tigers, and Sparrows is also lined with woven cattails, suggesting the two suits of armor were produced in the same area of Nara.
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。
