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Armour in Japan has a history that goes back as far as the 4th century.〔(''Sacred texts and buried treasures: issues in the historical archaeology of ancient Japan'' (Google eBook), William Wayne Farris, University of Hawaii Press, 1998 P.75 )〕 ''Japanese armour'' developed enormously over the centuries since its introduction to the battlefield. It was worn to varying degrees by numerous classes; most notably by the samurai (and by default the ashigaru), and was seen on the battlefield both on mounted and foot troops. The pinnacle of Japanese lamellar armour is generally accepted as being the type. == History == Japanese armour is thought to have evolved from the armour used in ancient China and Korea.〔 Cuirasses and helmets were manufactured in Japan as early as the 4th century.〔(''Sacred texts and buried treasures: issues in the historical archaeology of ancient Japan'', William Wayne Farris, University of Hawaii Press, 1998 P.75 )〕''Tankō'', worn by foot soldiers and ''keikō'', worn by horsemen were both pre-samurai types of early Japanese cuirass constructed from iron plates connected together by leather thongs. During the ''Heian period'' (794-1185), the Japanese cuirass evolved into the more familiar style of armour worn by the samurai known as the dou or dō. Japanese armour makers started to use leather (nerigawa) and lacquer was used to weather proof the armor parts. By the end of the ''Heian period'' the Japanese cuirass had arrived at the shape recognized as being distinctly samurai. Leather and or iron scales were used to construct samurai armours, with leather and eventually silk lace used to connect the individual scales (kozane) which these cuirasses were now being made from.〔(''Oriental Armour'', H. Russell Robinson, Courier Dover Publications, 2002 P.i73 )〕 In the 16th century Japan began trading with Europe during what would become known as the Nanban trade. Samurai acquired European armour including the cuirass and comb morion which they modified and combined with domestic armour as it provided better protection from the newly introduced matchlock muskets known as '. The introduction of the ''tanegashima'' by the Portuguese in 1543〔(''Tanegashima: the arrival of Europe in Japan'', Olof G. Lidin, Nordic Institute of Asian Studies, NIAS Press, 2002 )〕 changed the nature of warfare in Japan causing the Japanese armour makers to change the design of their armours from the centuries-old ''lamellar armours'' to ''plate armour'' constructed from iron and steel plates which was called ''tosei gusoku'' (new armours).〔(''Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior'', Clive Sinclaire, Globe Pequot, 2004 P.32 )〕 Bullet resistant armours were developed called ' or (bullet tested)〔(''The Watanabe Art Museum Samurai Armour CollectionVolume I ~ Kabuto & Mengu'', Trevor Absolon P.78 )〕 allowing samurai to continue wearing their armour despite the use of firearms. The era of warfare called the Sengoku period ended around 1600, Japan was united and entered the peaceful Edo period, samurai continued to use both plate and lamellar armour as a symbol of their status but traditional armours were no longer necessary for battles. During the Edo period light weight, portable and secret hidden armours became popular as there was still a need for personal protection. Civil strife, duels, assassinations, peasant revolts required the use of armours such as the ' (chain armour jacket) and armoured sleeves as well as other types of armour which could be worn under ordinary clothing.〔(Secrets of the samurai: a survey of the martial arts of feudal Japan, Oscar Ratti, Adele Westbrook, Tuttle Publishing, 1991 P.196 )〕 Edo period samurai were in charge of internal security and would wear various types of ''kusari gusoku'' (chain armour) and shin and arm protection as well as forehead protectors (').〔(''Taiho-jutsu: law and order in the age of the samurai'', Don Cunningham, Tuttle Publishing, 2004 P.46 )〕 Armour continued to be worn and used in Japan until the end of the samurai era (Meiji period) in the 1860s, with the last use of samurai armour happening in 1877 during the Satsuma Rebellion.〔(''Samurai: The Weapons and Spirit of the Japanese Warrior'', Clive Sinclaire, Globe Pequot, 2004 P.58 )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Japanese armour」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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