Were the o-sode left hanging down the arms?

[piryohae3]

I can't find anything to verify if the o-sode were tied to the arms or left dangling. In some pictures is looks like it moves with the arm, in others it looks like it just hangs there.

[IanB]

O-sode were fastened to both the shoulder straps of the cuirass and to a large silk bow, the agemaki, hanging from a ring on the back of the cuirass. Each sode had 4 attachements. On the inner side, just below the upper plate, was from the front, a double silk cord with tassels on both ends, in the centre a doubled strip of leather, at the top rear, another double silk cord and finally about half way down the rear edge, a single tasselled cord. On the shoulder straps of the cuirass were two loops to which the front double cord and the leather strips fastened. The rear double cord tied to the side loop of the agemaki bow on the back of the cuirass. Finally the single cord passed through the side loop of the agemaki and tied to its opposite number around the neck of the agemaki. The whole purpose of this complex system was to keep the sode in position over the arm, yet allowing them to be raised and moved about when using either the bow or sword.

Ian Bottomley

[b.hennick]

Wonderful description Ian.

[IanB]

Thanks Barry.

[Guest]

Here's the complicated tying system than IanB describes, the thinner himo are coming from the O-Sode and the thick Himo with the fancy knot  is the Agemaki:

 

 

The various himo which all end in fusa tassels hang down at the back:

 

 

Just found another example:

 

 

And here's how they were tied for the Do Maru style:

 

 

 

(These were on display at Tokyo National Museum in November 2017 & 2018).