Ōyoroi
The Ōyoroi ( Japanese 大 鎧 , English “large armor”) is a special type of Japanese armor that was mainly used between the 10th and early 14th centuries (towards the end of the Heian period and in the Kamakura period ).
description
A Ōyoroi was a richly decorated armor that, in contrast to infantry armor, allowed relatively little movement. A Japanese helmet ( kabuto ) was worn with the armor .
The armor consists of plates, which in turn consist of individual metal scales that are held together with silk cords. Lacquered leather was also used. The kusazuri (protection for the lower body area) consists of only four panels (front, back, right and left), which made walking difficult. The relatively large shoulder plates ( sods ) were held in place by straps. The back was also protected by a large plate. There were only two small plates on the right and left to protect the chest, plus a breastplate. Legs and arms were also protected. The Ōyoroi was also used for ceremonies much later. It was designed for mounted archers , like the early samurai , and protected them particularly well against arrows and swords. It was unsuitable for infantry , as the weight was mainly on the shoulders. Therefore, it also lost its importance when the samurai no longer went into battle mounted.
The armor was mainly used in the Gempei War and the Mongol invasions in Japan .
Individual evidence
- ^ Page of the SWR about the Oyoroi
- ↑ a b c The Ōyoroi on The Age of the Samurai (Engl.)
- ↑ Article on samurai armor ( Memento from May 6, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Armaments on welt-der-samurai.de
