Tatamidō
The Tatamidō ( Japanese畳 胴; " Tatami armor") is a Japanese armor from the Sengoku period . She belongs to the larger group of Tōseigusoku .
description
In contrast to the usual armor of this time, the breastplate is not made of studded leather strips (itazane), but of chain mesh . This is not a Japanese invention, but an imitation of European armaments that came to Japan through the so-called Nanban trade . The armor also included a foldable chain hood .
The unusual name probably comes from the fact that the surface of a chain mesh is reminiscent of tatami mats.
A tatamidō is on display in the Central Museum of Chiba Prefecture (千葉 県 中央 博物館).
Web links
- Website of the Central Museum of the City of Chiba [1] (Japanese) (a picture of the Tatamidō is on this page directly above the large heading of the 2nd chapter)