Question on Armour parts (technical definitions)

[myochin]

Hello all,

 

I have two questions for the armour fans, but anyone can answer

 

My first question: what is the name of a shikoro that has a hidden lacing. That is, the lacing is entirely on the inside to avoid being damaged in battle. See picture 1.

 

Second question: what is the name of a yodare-kake that is in three parts. That is, with a frontal throat protection and 2 side parts (generaly) attached by hinges that fold back around the back of the neck. See picture 2.

 

If someone can also provide the kanji that would be the cherry on the cake !!

 

Many thanks for your time & help.

Paul.

[IanB]

Paul,

I hang my head in shame about your first query. I just don't know. The usual bible on all matters armour - Sasama's Nihon Katchu Bugu Jiten is silent on shikoro laced internally as indeed are books written by Yamagishi Sensei. I have searched all my likely books and a pile of Japanese museum catalogues and failed to find another example that might have named the beast. There is another example in the Royal Armouries collection, on a captured Korean helmet bowl.

Your second query is possibly easier. What you illustrate is a combination of mengu and guruwa. I suppose the combination would be described as a guruwa tare.

 

Ian

[myochin]

Many thanks Ian for your time!

Don't be ashamed, I have searched high & low for these two definitions. I have also queried a few "experts" to no avail.

I thought I would try the NMB, you just never know.

 

FYI, the 1st picture is from the Stibbert collection.

 

Paul.

[IanB]

Paul,

Ah the Stibbert. Last time I went the Japanese section was closed for restoration. Italy's immigration control have a special routine in their software that flashes a message to all the arms and armour museums in the country to close as my passport is checked.

 

A couple of months ago I was in Torino and passed by the Artillery Museum which has a chain across the entrance. A guy explained with much waving of arms that 'since it was Monday . . . and had it been any other day . . regretfully it was closed for cleaning'. I am assured it hasn't opened for 34 years.

 

I won't give up on the shikoro. If need be I will contact friends in Japan.

 

Ian

[Bugyotsuji]

Paul,

Ah the Stibbert. Last time I went the Japanese section was closed for restoration. Italy's immigration control have a special routine in their software that flashes a message to all the arms and armour museums in the country to close as my passport is checked.

 

A couple of months ago I was in Torino and passed by the Artillery Museum which has a chain across the entrance. A guy explained with much waving of arms that 'since it was Monday . . . and had it been any other day . . regretfully it was closed for cleaning'. I am assured it hasn't opened for 34 years.

 

Ian

 

LOL at Ian.

 

It's not just you. I have been to the Wallace Collection three times this year wanting to see among other things their gunnery room but it has always been locked 'for refurbishment'. Grrrrr...

[IanB]

Paul,

Whilst lying abed last night it came to me that the concealed lacing may well be described as ura-odoshi shikoro or some such phrase.

Ian

[myochin]

Hello Ian,

 

Hope my questions didn't keep you awake all night !

Ura-odoshi shikoro (back-laced shikoro) does seem to fit.

Seems I was searching for a much more sophisticated expression when the more obvious is sufficient. I guess that this type of feature was not common.

Do you have any idea who (ranks) or when this type of shikoro was used ? (being a rather elaborate kabuto I guess it was not used by a low-ranking samurai; on the other hand, an "important" samurai would most probably not encounter close range combat so there would be no actual use for an internal lacing - guess it was more for "show" than "purpose")

 

Many thanks for your help.

Paul.

[IanB]

Paul,

I don't think it was a rank thing - just prefereence. The Stibbert one looks like a rich Edo period piece whereas that in the Armouries is much more austere and could be late Momoyama / very early Edo. They are so rare I suspect they were not particularly practical. Its a nice idea that the odoshige gets protected but in reality you could only cut a small proportion of the lacing on a conventional shikoro with a single blow.

 

Ian