Tatemono

Tatemono
Information
Weapon type:	Protective weapon
Use:	Crest
Region of origin / ; author:	Japan , armory
Distribution:	Japan
Lists on the subject

The Tatemono ( Japanese 立 (て) 物 , literally: "standing thing") are decorations on Japanese helmets .

description

The Tatemono consist of a wide variety of materials. They are used as a helmet ornament ( Zimier ), similar to the European helmet covers and heraldic figures . In Japan, figures, animal or mythical beings are often used whose properties the wearer wants to copy, but which do not reflect any visible connection or property of the wearer. There are countless versions made of metal , bronze , brass , copper , leather , wood , paper mache or other materials. They are almost always artistically shaped and additionally gold-plated , silver-plated or covered with colored lacquer or enamel work .

The decoration is mostly on the front of the helmet and is then referred to as Maedatemono ( 前立物 ), or Maedate for short ( 前立 (て) , historically as mayedate , German “standing in front”). But they can also be attached to other places and are then called:

Ushirodate (mono) ( 後立 (て) (物) , “standing behind”): Attached to the back of the helmet
Kashiradate (mono) ( 頭立 (て) (物) , "[standing above] the head"): fastening on the top of the helmet
Wakidate (mono) ( 脇立 (て) (物) , "standing sideways"): attachment on each side of the helmet (right and left)

Representations of dragons , wasps , dragonflies , fish , lions , tigers , crabs and horns of animals are very popular .

literature

Donald J. LaRocca: The gods of war. Sacred imagery and the decoration of arms and armor. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York NY 1996, ISBN 0-87099-779-3 , pp. 19, 21, 44.

Individual evidence

↑ George Cameron Stone : A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armor in All Countries and in All Times. With an Introduction by Donald J. LaRocca. Courier Dover Publications, Mineola NY 1999, ISBN 0-486-40726-8 , pp. 423-425.