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.
Until the end of the Kamakura period (1185–1333), the bow and arrow served as the samurai’s main weapon. During the Nanbokuchō (1336–1392) and Muromachi (1392–1573) periods, frequent conflicts involved a higher number of warriors. Hand-to-hand combat proved to be the most effective strategy. Lances and swords became the weapons of choice even after the introduction of the matchlock gun in 1543. Following the arrival of firearms, archery was still important to the samurai and remained part of the training for military noblemen. Swords were the most important weapons for the samurai. Warriors carried a long and a short sword—a taichi with koshigatana, or a katana with wakizashi.
Command equipment was designed to help military leaders convey orders. War fans, command batons, drums, gongs, and conch shell horns were used to direct troops. To ensure that the commander in chief’s rank was properly displayed, and to identify the clans, daimyō and warriors used personal flags, standards, and banners bearing distinctive family crests on the battlefield.
Horse Mask (bamen)
19th century
Leather, lacquer, horsehair
This delightfully fierce mask transforms a horse into a creature of mythical powers, complete with horns and golden fangs.
Muneyoshi Japanese
Active early–mid 19th century
Horse Mask (bamen)
19th century
Iron
Most known horse masks are made of leather; this iron example is a rarity. Here, a dragon is surrounded by flames. A central hinge makes it possible to adjust the mask to fit the horse.
Horse Mask (bamen)
19th century
Leather, metal, lacquer
Horse masks (bamen) first appeared in the 17th century and were primarily used in military processions. Bamen were often made of boiled leather that was molded and lacquered to portray dragons or caricatures of horses. Lacquered in gold, red, and black, this example, with its menacing jaws and flame-like eyebrows, is a caricature of a horned dragon.
Horse Mask (bamen)
Late 16th century
Wood, leather, gold, hemp
Horse Tack (bagu) with Saddle (kura) and Stirrups (abumi)
1678
Iron, gold, wood, leather
The copper-colored wooden saddle and iron stirrups of this set are richly adorned with peonies of gold- and silver-toned lacquer in low relief. The saddle pads bear a design of dragons cavorting among waves and the Takenaka family crest.
Horse Tack (bagu) with Saddle (kura) and Stirrups (abumi)
19th century
Wood, leather, iron, lacquer, gold
The saddle and accompanying pieces in this equestrian set are embellished in gold with a complex geometric pattern and Fukami family crests.
Saddle (kura) with Inlaid Peonies
1675
Wood, silver, copper
Adapted from Chinese and central Asian models, Japanese saddles were made of lacquered and decorated hardwood, such as red oak or maple. This saddle features a beautiful design of inlaid peonies.
Nagatsugu Japanese, active 18th century Stirrups (abumi)
18th century
Iron, silver, wood
Samurai warriors frequently fought on horseback with bows and arrows, using stirrups designed with long soles to function as platforms. Toe braces at the front allowed riders to stand in the stirrups to shoot their arrows. The stirrups were generally made of lacquered iron and often embellished with brass, silver, or copper inlay and appliqué. Such beautifully decor - ated stirrups were often exchanged as gifts among high-ranking warriors.
Tomozane Japanese
Dates unknown
Stirrups (abumi)
17th–mid-19th century
Iron, silver, wood, lacquer
These russet-iron stirrups are adorned with a design of silver-inlaid cherry blossoms surrounding a butterfly family crest (mon). The cherry blossom, which falls from the tree at the height of its beauty, became a powerful symbol for the samurai who, governed by the bushidō honor code, might choose to accept death even in the flower of youth.
Stirrups (abumi) with Designs of Monkeys
18th century
Iron, wood, copper
The tiny monkeys that appear on these stirrups are rare embellishments for this type of equestrian equipment. Monkeys were believed to be protective figures for horses, capable of saving them from potential illness. Live monkeys were often kept in stables to help keep horses calm.
Fireman’s Helmet (kaji kabuto) with the Mōri Family Crest
17th century
Leather, iron, lacquer, silver, shakudō, Dutch cloth
Firefighting was one of the most important tasks assumed by samurai during the peaceful Edo period. Rotating teams of samurai were assigned to protect the shogun’s castle and other important buildings. This cape (attached to the helmet) of Dutch wool is embellished with two crest designs used by the Mōri; the lacquered leather helmet mimics the shape of a war helmet.
Fire Cape (kaji shōzoku)
Late 18th century
Cotton, silk, Japanese paper (washi)
The wives of samurai ran the family households while their husbands were away at war. At a time when fires were common in wooden castles and residences, capes like this one provided women some protection against flames. Unfortunately, only wealthy families were able to afford such a garment.
Surcoat (jinbaori)
17th–18th century
Leather, lacquer, brocade
The back of this battle jacket is embellished with the image of a type of command baton known as a saihai. Made from strips of lacquered paper attached to a wooden handle, a saihai was used to signal troops.
Battle Standard (umajirushi)
18th century
Gold, wood
This type of standard, known as an umajirushi, was placed beside the commander in chief when he was traveling on horseback or seated to direct or observe a battle. Visible at great distances, the standard announced his presence to both his own soldiers and the enemy. This example is in the shape of a butterfly, the crest of the Tokugawa-aligned Ikeda family.
Full‑Face Mask (sōmen)
17th century
Iron, gold, bronze
This work represents a rare type of fullface mask made of parts fastened together with rivets instead of removable pieces. A fabric cap would be attached to the small holes at the top of the forehead to ensure a secure fit to the head and face.
Battle Banner (sashimono)
ca. 18th century
Silk
This long silk banner was attached to the back of a samurai’s suit of armor to help identify him from a distance. The inscription on the flag translates as “take refuge in the Lotus Law,” referring to the Lotus Sutra, the central teaching of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism founded in the 13th century.
War Drum (jindaiko)
Late 17th–early 18th century
Wood, doeskin, gold, metal, silk
The war drum was used to sound orders to troops on the battlefield. This example was carved out of a single piece of wood. Each side is decorated with three hollyhock leaves, the crest of the ruling Tokugawa family.
Bow Holder (yumidai) with Two Bows with the Tokugawa Family Crest
18th century
Leather, iron, bamboo, feathers, gold lacquer
The traditional Japanese longbow measures between seven and eight feet long, with the grip one-third of the length from the base. Great skill was required in crafting the bow to ensure that the two unequal arms exerted an even pull on the arrow. This rare set includes a bow holder, two bows, and a particularly ornate quiver adorned with delicate gold-lacquer leafing. The ten bamboo arrows have forged-iron tips. All the pieces of this bow holder bear the crest of the Tokugawa family, the warrior clan that ruled Japan during the Edo period.
Arrow Box and Arrows
19th century
Wood, lacquer, gold, bamboo, feathers, iron
This black-lacquered box, decorated with the paulownia-leaf crest, served as a storage receptacle for precious arrows. Each of the arrows, which are made of bamboo with duck feathers, is equipped with a small iron tip. Two of the arrows are fitted with larger, more elaborate iron heads with an openwork design of a cherry blossom.
Arrowheads (yanone)
17th–mid-19th century
Iron The designs on these intricate arrowheads carry votive significance. One is decorated with Sanskrit letters (the liturgical language of Buddhism); another bears the Chinese zodiac wheel and two heart shapes known by craftsmen as “boar’s eyes”; three others are decorated with family crests (mon); and one depicts an episode from a folktale in which a child escapes from an ogre by climbing a tree.
Quiver (utsubo)
17th–18th century
Bamboo, leather, fur, gold
This quiver takes the form of a bamboo tube covered in lacquered leather and wild boar fur. The wild boar alludes to the Buddhist goddess Marishiten, patron and protector of archers, who is often depicted riding the animal. The quiver was carried diagonally across the back.
Pole Weapon (naginata)
18th century
Iron, lacquer, wood, silver, gold
The naginata, a pole weapon characterized by a long shaft surmounted by a curved blade, was favored by the samurai for fighting both on horseback and on foot and thus played an important role in Japanese military history from the 12th through the mid-19th century. During the Edo period, samurai women trained with the naginata and used it to defend their homes and families when the men were away. This example bears family crests on its pole and scabbard.
Yokoyama Sukesada Japanese
Active 17th century
Tachi‑type Sword (efu no tachi)
1660–70
Steel, bronze, stingray skin, wood, lacquer, gold
The sword was a samurai’s most prized possession and the symbol of his social status. With a curved blade just over twenty-six inches long, this sword would have been worn only by the highest-ranking members of the military aristocracy on ceremonial occasions. Adapted to mounted combat, this tachi was worn on the warrior’s left and attached to his belt. The sword mounts include an astonishing 135 crests of the Abe family.
Short Sword (wakizashi) with the Mōri Family Crest
Blade
6th century
Scabbard
18th century
Steel, lacquer, shakudō, wood
Japanese warriors used several types of bladed weapons. During the Edo period, it was an exclusive privilege of the samurai class to wear two swords: the longer katana and the shorter wakizashi, an example of which is seen here. The Mōri family crest is worked into the ornamental fittings on the sword’s hilt.
Ujifusa, short sword
Japanese
Active mid–late 16th century
Dagger (aikuchi)
1572
Iron, lacquer, wood, horn, gold, bronze, shakudō
Armor of the Tatehagidō Type
17th– 18th century
Iron, lacing, gold, boar fur, shakudō, bronze
Tatehagidō armor is characterized by chest armor made of five vertically oriented iron plates riveted together. In this example, a dragon, rendered in relief, winds across the front of the chest plate. Three dents in the cuirass (coverage from neck to waist) show that this particular armor was bullet-tested; marks left by a sword or arrow are also evident.
Matchlock Gun (teppō)
17th–18th century
Iron, bronze, gold, wood
European firearms first reached Japan in 1543 with Portuguese merchants who were shipwrecked on a small island south of Kyūshū. Gunsmithing and powder making rapidly expanded across the nation, as skilled Japanese blacksmiths quickly learned to copy and adapt the guns. Imported and domestic guns changed Japanese warfare; the most progressive daimyō added gunnery units to their armies. The stock of this gun is inlaid with a Chinese lion, a floral crest, and chrysanthemums in gilded bronze.
Samurai Armor Exhibit:
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