【National treasure】
Dōmaru Armor with Black Leather Lacing
Kasugataisha Shrine’s collection includes several ceremonial suits of armor with bold, impractical ornamentation. Armor was an essential piece of equipment for a warrior, and this set of dōmaru armor shows how even practical, functional armor could be a sign of its owner’s wealth and status.
Armor of this type is made from strips of leather and iron that were commonly coated with a layer of lacquer. However, the makers of this armor did not stop at one layer; they applied many coats of lacquer to build up a rounded shape on the surface of each strip. Creating this distinct visual effect required additional time, labor, and money. The armor is also partially adorned with gilded chrysanthemum ornamentation. The lifelike, high-relief carvings of the flowers would have required tremendous skill.
More expensive armor wasn’t just more finely decorated; it was often more comfortable to wear. For example, this helmet has a lighter, ridged design. Older helmets were made by riveting together sheets of iron, creating several rows of bumps on the outside of the helmet. Beginning in the mid-1300s, the iron sheets were sometimes joined using smaller, lighter rivets that were then flattened down. Such helmets were lighter and could be worn longer without causing neck strain.
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。
