All text and information in this series is copied from the exhibit and its supporting material, not my writing.
All photos are by Brenna Reistad.
The Edo period (1615–1868) was a time of relative peace under the Tokugawa shogunate. Its headquarters were located in Edo—present-day Tokyo—while the emperor’s court was in Kyoto. The samurai retained their privileged status but became bureaucrats and civil leaders rather than active warriors.
Armor became a symbol of pageantry and prestige. For parades and the mandatory biannual processions between their home domains and Edo, samurai would dress in full armor and carry weapons. Because the size and splendor of these processions reflected a daimyō’s status, significant resources were invested in creating pieces of great artistic refinement.
On the eleventh day of the first month of each year, the daimyō’s helmet and armor were displayed in the shoin of his residence, a room where he received guests. His banners and standards, or personal flags, flew in the garden to ensure an auspicious year. Some armor was donated to shrines and temples as votive offerings for success and protection.
Unkai Mitsuhisa Japanese
Active 17th century
Kaen type of Helmet Representing the Flaming Jewel
17th century
Iron, lacquer, lacing, gold, bronze
This exquisitely crafted helmet takes the form of the flaming jewel, a frequently used symbol in Buddhist imagery. Each of the flanges has been cut from a single piece of iron into a series of flickering flames that join at the crown to form a larger flame. The turned-back side deflectors are also shaped like flames. The frontal crest, which looks like an upside-down heart—inome (“boar’s eye”)—within a circle symbolizes Marishit - en, the Buddhist goddess of archers.
Masuda Myōchin
Japanese
Active 1688–1749
Ridged Helmet with Large Rivets (ōboshi sujibachi kabuto)
ca. 1730
Iron, gold, silver, bronze, shakudō, leather
Made of radiating plates of iron joined by large rivets with raised seams, this helmet is an eloquent example of the Edo-period fashion of revisiting earlier, classical armor of the Kamakura period. Richly decorated with silvered iron dragonflies on a lattice of golden foliage, the helmet bears the Matsudaira family crest. The surname Matsudaira was shared by several branches of the ruling Tokugawa clan.
Unkai Mitsuhisa
Japanese
Active 17th century
Chin Guard (hōate) with Bellflower Design
17th century
Iron, lacquer, lacing
Unkai Mitsuhisa
Helmet bowl
Japanese
Active 17th century
Umetada Shigeyoshi, decoration Japanese, active 17th century Peach‑Shaped Helmet (momonari kabuto), 17th century Iron, silver, gold, pewter, lacing, bronze Two artists contributed to the creation of this helmet. The peach-shaped bowl, signed by Unkai Mitsuhisa, is made of six iron plates with flanges. The inlaid silver dragon amid clouds was designed by Umetada Shigeyoshi, who was renowned for the remarkable finesse of his embellishments.
Attributed to Myōchin Muneakira
Japanese
1673–1745
Military Hat (jingasa)
Late 17th–early 18th century
Iron, gold, copper
Myōchin Muneakir
Japanese
1673–1745
Full‑Face Mask (sōmen)
1745
Iron, leather, lacing
Myōchin Muneakira, who skillfully forged this mask from a single sheet of iron, added a hole under the chin to release sweat and chiseled iron studs for attaching the helmet cords.
Kojima Munenao
Helmet, mask
Japanese
Active 18th century
Armor of Okegawadō Type with Accessories
Mid - to late-18th century
Iron, lacquer, bronze, leather, wood, hemp, brocade, steel
The artist Kojima Munenao was part of a school of armorers called Unkai, known for their excellent ironwork. This ensemble includes two types of family crests representing stylized bamboo leaves and likely linked to the Takenaka samurai clan in central Japan. The quality of this armor is evident in its sumptuous details. The inside of the chest armor is covered entirely with textured gold leaf, a rare and costly feature indicating the owner’s substantial wealth.
A stylized bamboo branch with leaves is attached to the back of the armor to help identify the warrior. Under the right hand is a large paper tassel (saihai), which was used to signal troops. The ensemble also features a vest (jinbaori), which would have been worn over the armor on ceremonial occasions, and a battle standard (umajirushi). Each prominently features the Takenaka family’s bamboo crests.
Myōchin Yoshiiy
Helmet bowl
Japanese
Active 16th century
Ridged Helmet with Rivets (hoshi sujibachi kabuto), helmet bowl,
16th century
Ornamentation
18th century
Iron, brocade, leather, lacing, wood
Buddhism, which originated in India and was introduced to Japan in the 6th century, was widely adopted by most samurai. Represented here on the frontal ornament is the Buddhist deity Fudō Myōō—the protector of warriors and the patron of swordsmen. Here, Fudō Myōō stands on a rock in front of flames, holding a rope and a sword (now lost).
Helmet (kabuto) with Crest Representing Fudō Myōō and Half Mask (menpō)
Early 17th century
Iron, copper, gold, wood, leather, lacquer, lacing
The frontal crest on this helmet is a Sanskrit character engulfed in flames, an allegory of the Buddhist deity Fudō Myōō—the Immovable One. The stylized shape of the helmet, constructed of six wide plates, represents Mount Fuji, with eternal snow at its summit.
Elaborately Shaped Helmet (kawari kabuto) with Sanskrit Character for Fudō Myō
17th century
Iron, copper, gold, wood, leather, lacquer, lacing
The frontal crest on this helmet is a Sanskrit character engulfed in flames, an allegory of the Buddhist deity Fudō Myōō—the Immovable One. The stylized shape of the helmet, constructed of six wide plates, represents Mount Fuji, with eternal snow at its summit.
Muneyoshi
Japanese
17th–18th century
Axe‑Shaped Helmet (kawari kabuto)
17th–18th century
Iron, lacquer, lacing, bronze, gold, leather
This helmet is in the shape of an axe head, a symbol of power and strength. The blacksmith’s inscription reads “makiwari” (wood-chopping axe) and may be a reference to Kintoki, a small child of Japanese folklore who has superhuman strength and carries a giant axe.
Elaborately Shaped Helmet (kawari kabuto)
17th–18th century
Iron, wood, lacquer, silver, yak hair, lacing, bronze, gold
To fashion this helmet, a demon mask sculpted from lacquered papier-mâché was fitted over a simple iron bowl made of three plates. In Japanese folklore, oni (demons) are cruel but protective spirits often depicted as menacing, horned, wild creatures, considered invincible and thus a logical choice for portrayals on armor.
Ridged‑Bowl Helmet (sujibachi kabuto), helmet
16th century
Ornamentation
Mid-18th century
Iron, lacing, fur, gold, shakudō, bronze, leather
The bowl of this helmet is constructed of forty-three iron plates. The flanges at the edge of each seam are formed into an S-shape, enabling them to interlock; this technique greatly strengthens the helmet. The ornaments, added in the 18th century, include the sacred jewel of Buddhism at the crown of the helmet and gilt-bronze fern fronds above a grimacing oni (demon) face.
Frontal Crest (maedate)
18th century
Lacquer, gold, horsehair
This unique maedate—an ornament for the front of a helmet— evokes the head of a mythical animal, part ferocious bird and part fish. It was modeled using a dry-lacquer technique in which layers of lacquer are built up to create the shape. White horsehair, fine teeth, and lacquered, scalelike wings further embellish the piece.
Armor of the Okegawadō Type, sashimono
Late 16th century
Armor
Early 17th century
Iron, lacquer, bear fur, Japanese paper (washi), bamboo, gold, wood, fabric, horsehair
This armor and the imposing tall ornament (sashimono) at the back reflect the exuberance of the late 16th century, when warfare reached an unprecedented intensity and warriors sought to stand out during interclan conflicts. Made of gilded, lacquered paper, the ornament represents three feathers. Visible from afar but too fragile for combat, this armor was probably worn by a samurai surveying the battlefield or taking part in a procession or ceremony.
Elaborately Shaped Helmet (kawari kabuto)
Early 17th century
Iron, leather, lacing, gilt copper, bronze, gilt wood
This helmet’s upper structure is modeled from lacquered leather in the shape of a rhinoceros horn and ears. Though not native to Japan, the rhinoceros was illustrated in books imported from the Asian continent
Hineno‑type Helmet (kabuto) with Hawk Feather
17th–18th century
Iron, lacing, lacquer, leather, bronze, gold, shakudō, wood
Helmets of the hineno type featured a closefitting neck guard that is longer in the back than it is on the sides (to clear the shoulders). The gilt-bronze frontal crest of this helmet portrays the Buddhist wheel of law, which symbolizes the teachings of Buddha or the Buddha himself. The rear crest is shaped like a giant hawk feather and made of lacquered wood. Hawks were revered for their fierceness, sharp eyes, determination, and speed of flight.
Peach‑Shaped Helmet (momonari kabuto) with Antlers
17th–18th century
Iron, gold, lacquer
The striking stag antlers that adorn this helmet are sculpted from dry lacquer and gilded in a realistic texture.
Elaborate Shell‑Shaped Helmet (kawari kabuto)
17th century
Iron, lacing, papier-mâché
Imposing and majestic, this helmet is a large papier-mâché representation of a scallop shell. Viewed from the side, however, a different shape is suggested: the base of two fins and a fishtail forcefully striking the water.
Armor of the Okegawadō Type
17th century
Iron, lacquer, gold, silver, bronze, horsehair
The okegawadō type of armor, named for its tube-like shape, was one of the most popular styles of armor from the late 16th century onward, as it offered excellent protection against gunfire. This example is constructed of heavy iron plates, horizontally aligned and riveted together. Gold and silver inlays illustrate a Chinese lion romping among peonies on the sandbank, as well as the helmet’s seashells and dragons.
Elaborately Shaped Helmet (kawari kabuto)
Early 17th century
Iron, lacing, papier-mâché, lacquer
Atop this black-lacquered iron helmet, an animated dorsal fin slices through waves. In East Asian traditions, the fish is a symbol of happiness, freedom, and prosperity
Half Mask (menpō) with Crab Claw Design
18th century
Iron, lacquer, lacing, hair
Wave‑Shaped Helmet (naruto kawari kabuto)
17th century
Iron, gold lacquer, lacing
Meant to stand out on the battlefield, this helmet depicts a tall wave with a rounded crest, a frequent natural phenomenon in the Naruto Strait, which separates the Japanese islands of Honshū and Shikoku. The family crest seen here is the manji, an ancient Sanskrit symbol that was adopted in Japanese Buddhism to represent the universality of the Buddha’s teachings.
Seashell‑Shaped Embossed Helmet (awabi uchidashi kabuto)
17th–18th century
Iron, lacing, leather, bronze, gold
To create this abalone seashell-shaped helmet, the craftsman used a sturdy, highrelief embossing technique. The helmet bowl is made with two joined plates of iron, the welded seam of which is hidden with a scalloped flange. The quality of both the iron and the patina here is exceptional
Elaborately Shaped Helmet (kawari kabuto)
ca. 1700
Iron, wood, silver, lacquer, lacing
The side ornaments of this helmet represent bamboo smoking pipes (kiseru) with silver-lacquered mouthpieces. The shape of the helmet bowl is that of a tobacco pouch. Pouches of this type dating to the Edo period are cinched at the top with a drawstring. The overall concept and design of the helmet pays tribute to the art of smoking. Tobacco was introduced in Japan by the Portuguese in the 1500s.
Elaborately Shaped Helmet (kawari kabuto)
17th century
Iron, lacing, lacquer, shakudō, bronze, gold, lacquered paper, fur
This helmet’s frontal ornament (maedate) is comprised of nine slightly twisted lacquered paper bamboo leaves and can spin in a breeze. A crescent moon, trimmed with fur, floats above the rear of the helmet, adding further height and majesty. The stylized cherry blossom crest on the side flaps was used by several clans.
Helmet with Standing Rivets (hoshi kabuto)
17th–18th century
Iron, leather, lacing, shakudō
Forged from a single sheet of iron, this tall conical helmet is embellished with protruding rivets. Stylized eyebrows were added to the visor while a foliage motif made of an alloy of gold and copper were added to the crown.
Bamboo‑Shaped Helmet (takenari kabuto)
17th century
Iron, lacquer, gold, lacing
This helmet’s shape is that of a bamboo shoot with two leaves, symbolizing strength and endurance. The clean and straight cut of the stalk is reminiscent of the cutting test conducted by master swordsmiths who would slash bamboo to test the quality of a blade.
Eggplant‑Shaped Helmet (nasubinari kabuto)
17th century
Lacquered leather, iron, gold, lacing, papier-mâché This tall helmet comprises six iron plates and is extended with a papier-mâché and lacquered-leather structure, forming the conical eggplant shape.
Samurai Armor Exhibit:
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