Kabuto
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{{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (兜, 冑) is a type of helmet first used by ancient Japanese warriors that, in later periods, became an important part of the traditional Japanese armour worn by the samurai class and their retainers in feudal Japan.
Note that in the Japanese language, the word {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is an appellative, not a type description, and can refer to any combat helmet.
Every year on Children's Day, May 5, Japanese households display miniature kabuto and samurai armor in keeping with the tradition of Tango no Sekku. In feudal times, real samurai armor, kabuto, and tachi were displayed.<ref name="yurai">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="kiso">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
HistoryEdit
Japanese helmets dating from the fifth century have been found in excavated tombs. Called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (attached-visor helmet), the style of these kabuto came from China and Korea. They had a pronounced central ridge.<ref>Template:Cite bookTemplate:Dead link</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, now known as samurai helmets, first appeared in the 10th century Heian period with the appearance of ō-yoroi. Until the early Muromachi period, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} were made by combining dozens of thin iron plates. Generally, only daimyo and samurai at the rank of commander wore {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ornaments called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (立物), which were shaped like a pair of hoes. In the middle of the Muromachi period, as the number of large group battles increased, ordinary samurai wore {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} in the shape of a hoe, the sun, the moon, or their flag on their {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} to show their courage or to distinguish friend from foe.<ref name ="fcm092">変わり兜展. Fukuoka City Museum</ref><ref name ="ntw11362">変わり兜 Nagoya Japanese Sword Museum "Nagoya Touken World"</ref>
In the Sengoku period in the 16th century, when the scale of war increased and the guns called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} became popular, the armor styles called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} became outdated. As a response to the popularity of {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, the armor style of {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) was created. {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} were made by combining three to four pieces of iron plates. These were more bulletproof than the conventional style and could be mass produced. The {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} became more eccentric and huge. Some were made of iron, but for safety reasons on the battlefield, they were often made with molded, lacquer-coated paper. In the Azuchi–Momoyama period, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} had a simple, bold design in accordance with the popularity of Momoyama culture.<ref name ="fcm092"/><ref name ="ntw11362"/><ref name ="fcm513"/>
In the Edo period, the Tokugawa shogunate defeated the Toyotomi clan in the Summer Siege of Osaka. Japanese society became more peaceful and medieval armor styles were revived. {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}- and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}Template:Nbhstyle {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} were made again.<ref name ="fcm513">甲冑に見る江戸時代展5 武士と武人の甲冑像 Fukuoka City Museum</ref> Ornamental kawari kabuto ("strange helmet") were made during this time that had "figures of animals, [kami], or various other objects mounted on top of them".<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> Kabuto during this time were made "from materials including iron, gold-copper alloy, lacquer, leather, silk, wood, gesso, bone[,] and gesso binder".<ref name=":0" />
The kabuto was an important part of the equipment of the samurai, and played a symbolic role as well, which may explain the Japanese expressions, sayings, and codes related to them. For instance, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} translates literally to "Tighten the string of the kabuto after winning the war". This refers to not reducing one's efforts after success; an equivalent saying in English would be "Don't rest on your laurels".<ref>勝って兜の緒を締めよ weblio国語辞典</ref> {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (lit. "to take off the kabuto") means "to surrender".<ref>兜を脱ぐ weblio国語辞典</ref>
- F-20153 E0022664.jpg
lang}}. Muromachi period, 15th century, Tokyo National Museum, Important Cultural Property
- 朱漆塗矢筈札紺糸素懸威具足2.jpg
lang}}. Azuchi–Momoyama period, 16th–17th century, Suntory Museum of Art
- 黒糸威二枚胴具足の兜.jpg
lang}}, attributed to Sakakibara Yasumasa. Edo period, 17th century, Tokyo National Museum, Important Cultural Property
- Samurai kabuto with octopus.jpg
lang}} with octopus. 18th century, Edo period. Stibbert Museum
- Fancy Kabuto with Tokugawa Clan Crest and Design of Butterflies and Dragonflies. 18th centyry, Edo period. Tokyo Fuji Art Museum.jpg
Fancy Kabuto with Tokugawa Clan Crest and Design of Butterflies and Dragonflies. Edo period, 18th century. Tokyo Fuji Art Museum
- F-17277 C0079612.jpg
lang}} with a medieval revival style. Edo period, 19th century, Tokyo National Museum.
Parts of the kabutoEdit
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The basic parts of the kabuto include:
- {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, a dome composed of overlapping elongated plates called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
- {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, a small opening at the top of the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, usually fitted with a {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (an ornamental grommet, often resembling a chrysanthemum)
- {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, a brim or visor on the front of the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
- {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, a cloth lining inside the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
- {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, mounting points for attaching crests
- {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, a ring at the back of the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} for securing a {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (helmet flag)
- {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, wing-like or ear-like projections to the sides of the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
- {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, a suspended neck guard composed of multiple overlapping lames
- {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (chin cord), often used to secure the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (facial armour)
A typical {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} features a central dome constructed of anywhere from three to over a hundred metal plates riveted together. These were usually arranged vertically, radiating from a small opening in the top. The rivets securing these metal plates to each other could be raised (a form known as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) or hammered flat (a form known as {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}); another form, called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, had the rivets filed flush. Some of the finer {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} were signed by their makers, usually from one of several known families, such as the Myochin, Saotome, Haruta, Unkai, or Nagasone families.Template:Citation needed
A small opening in the top of the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, called the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (seat of the war god, Hachiman), was thoughtTemplate:According to whom to be for passing the warrior's top knot through. Although this practice was largely abandoned after the Muromachi period, this opening may have been retained for purposes of ventilation or simply as an artifact of how the plates were riveted together.<ref name=ThomasIto>Template:Cite book</ref> The {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} was usually decorated with {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, which were rings of intricately worked, soft metal bands often resembling a chrysanthemum.<ref name=ThomasIto /><ref name=RattiWestbrook>Template:Cite book</ref> {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} were two helmet forms that did not usually have an opening at the top.
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}} incorporated a suspended neck guard called a {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, usually composed of three to seven semicircular, lacquered metal or oxhide lames, attached and articulated by silk or leather lacing, although some {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} were composed of 100 or more small metal scales in a row.<ref>The Encyclopedia Americana: a library of universal knowledge, Volume 15 p.774</ref> This lamellar armour style, along with {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (mail armour), was the standard technology of Japanese body armour, and some {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} were made of mail sewn to a cloth lining (a form called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}).
The {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} was secured to the head by a chin cord called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, which would usually be tied to posts or hooks on the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (facial armour) or simply tied under the chin.
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}} are often adorned with crests called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}};<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> the four types of decorations were the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (frontal decoration), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (side decorations), {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (top decoration), and {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (rear decoration). These can be family crests (mon), or flat or sculptural objects representing animals, mythical entities, prayers or other symbols. Horns are particularly common, and many kabuto incorporate {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, stylized antlers.
- Formen des Hoshi Kabuto.jpg
lang}} shapes:Template:Ordered list
- Nami-gata tate hagi-no ita.JPG
lang}} can be seen at the top.
- Kasa jirushi no kan 1.JPG
lang}}
- Shikoro.JPG
lang}} (neck guard)
- Japanese armor guimet.jpg
lang}} (facial armour).
- Maedate, c. 1800-1894.jpg
Maedate, Template:Circa–1894, from the Oxford College Archives of Emory University
- Maedate.JPG
lang}} (front crests)
- Maedate tsunamoto.jpg
lang}} (mounting point for front crest)
- Wakidate tsunamoto.JPG
lang}} (mounting point for side crest)
Types of kabutoEdit
Suji bachi kabutoEdit
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is a multiple-plate type of Japanese helmet with raised ridges or ribs showing where the helmet plates come together; the rivets may be filed flat or they may be left showing, as in the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}.
Hoshi-bachi kabutoEdit
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (star helmet bowl) with protruding rivet heads, have large rivets ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}), small rivets ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) and a rivet with a chrysantemoid-shaped washer at its base ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}). {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} could also be {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} if there were raised ribs or ridges showing where the helmet plates came together.
Hari bachi kabutoEdit
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is multiple-plate Japanese {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} with no ribs or ridges showing where the helmet plates come and the rivets are filed flush.
Zunari kabutoEdit
The {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is a simple, five-plate design.
Tatami kabutoEdit
A great number of simpler, lightweight, folding, portable armours for lower-ranking samurai and foot soldiers ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) were also produced. These were called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} armour, and some featured collapsible {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (also called {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}), made from articulated lames.<ref name=RattiWestbrook /><ref>Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan - Page 279 Asiatic Society of Japan - 1881.</ref><ref>Arms and Armor of the Samurai Ian Bottomley, Anthony Hopson Random House Value Publishing, 1993 p.92</ref> {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} did not use rivets in their construction; instead, lacing or chain mail was used to connect the pieces to each other.
Kaji kabutoEdit
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}} were a type of helmet worn by samurai firemen.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
JingasaEdit
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}} were war hats made in a variety of shapes, worn by {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (foot soldiers) and samurai, which could be made from leather or metal.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Kawari kabuto, or strange helmetEdit
During the Momoyama period of intense civil warfare, kabuto were made to a simpler design of three or four plates, lacking many of the ornamental features of earlier helmets. To offset the plain, utilitarian form of the new helmet, and to provide visibility and presence on the battlefield, armorers began to build fantastic shapes on top of the simple helmets in {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} (papier-mâché mixed with lacquer over a wooden armature), though some were constructed entirely of iron. These shapes mimicked forms from Japanese culture and mythology, including fish, cow horns, the head of the god of longevity, bolts of silk, head scarves, Ichi-no-Tani canyon, and axe heads, among many others. Some forms were realistically rendered, while others took on a very futuristic, modernist feel.
- MAP Expo Oitaragainari kawari kabuto XVII 02 01 2012.jpg
lang}} which used papier-mâché mixed with lacquer for the elaborate decoration (the shell) on an iron bowl, beginning of the Edo Period, 17th century . Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum, Dallas (Texas)
- Helmet MET DT305558.jpg
lang}} made of iron and gilt copper, from Ise Province
- Antique Japanese (samurai) za-boshi suji bachi kabuto.jpg
lang}}, as it has raised ridges.
- Eboshi kabuto 1.JPG
lang}}
- Eboshi kabuto, yokohagi okegawa dou.jpg
lang}}
- Kaji kabuto.JPG
lang}}
- Nerigawa toppai jingassa.JPG
lang}})
- Conch helmet - Higgins Armory Museum - DSC05525.JPG
lang}}
- Helmet crouching rabbit Met 07.48.jpg
lang}}
See alsoEdit
- Zischägge, a similarly shaped European helmet
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:Helmets Template:Japanese (samurai) weapons, armour and equipment