Samurai Armour
1.Some Samurai decorated their helmets with evil-looking masks
to scare their enemies. They also wore masks with fierce beards and moustaches made of thick horse-hair.
2.Before they went into battle, samurai would shave the tops
of their heads. This stopped them getting too hot in their helmets.
3.Armour was made of woven twigs and metal to protect a soldier.
4.Before 1450 - box-like tunics of sheet metal. Preferences : lighter, close-fitting armour, made of metal strips laced together or carefully shaped steel plates. If can't afford - small metal squares fixed to a shirt of chain mail.
5.Skilled craft workers made and mended the armour.
6.Helemt had up to 32 curved metal panels fasten together, and a neck guard of metal strips.
7.Armour consisted of a helmet, shoulder guard, neck guard, hand armour, breastplate, armoured kilt, shin guard, knee protectors, shin guard, straw sandals. Armour was held in place by strong leather strips tied at the back, and was decorated with silk cords.
8. Most armour was very heavy- a suit could weigh 18kg. It was also hot and uncomfortable to wear. It trapped sweat and was a breeding ground for lice. After a battle, the armour was hanged over a smoky fire to get rid of the bugs, germs and smells.
9. Underneath the armour a Samurai wore a) loincloth b) a short kimono c) baggy trousers tied around the waist.
10. Netsuke - decorated toggles used as a button-like fixture on a man's sash, from which small personal belongings were hung.
11. Armour was unique-developed over many centuries, highly decorative ,ornamental.
Information taken from three books : Fierce Fighters Samurai – Charlotte Guillain, How to be a Samurai - Fiona Macdonald, Arms & Armour - project editor Michele Byam
