The expression of this armor, with its dragon and carp maedate transformation, sets the tone of its mythological meaning. The red armor has a Zunari Kabuto decorated with a Nichirin sun motif, which supports the dragon and carp conversion. The menpo is a Reisei-men with rabbit hair mustache, rendering a fierce warrior’s expression. The menpo is attached with four Kiritsuke yodare in blue and gold silk cords. The Renzan Dou is decorated with slivers of silver in the Ronin pattern from front to back. The Oni badge is of tooled leather and gilt which is applied onto the lacquered dou. The dou lames have a set of six laces around the bottom edge in blue silk. The gold Fukube kote is decorated with gold gilt gourds and gold Suji plates, constructed of chainmail with silk lining. The Haidate is leather lacquered in red and gold leaf, formulating a grid plate with the Nichirin sun motif. The leather plates are mounted on hemp and indigo cotton. The Suneate is fabricated with narrow steel lacquered plates and chainmail stitched onto hemp, leather, and cotton indigo. The armor comes with a complete traveling pair of wooden cage devises with iron hard mounts.


Exhibited at the Upcoming 2018 San Francisco Tribal Art & Textile Show

Early Edo Period (1603-1868)