Haramaki (armour)

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File:Go-mai haramaki dou.jpg
Antique Edo period Japanese (samurai) 4 hinge 5 plate (go-mai) dou or dō that is opens in the back (haramaki).

Haramaki is a type of chest armour (dou or dō) worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan and their retainers.

Description

Haramaki were originally constructed with the same materials as the ō-yoroi but designed for foot soldiers to use as opposed to the ō-yoroi which was for mounted warfare.[1] Haramaki refers to any Japanese armour which is put on from the front and then fastened in the back with cords. Other types of dō open from the side (ni-mai dō, dō-maru, maru-dō) instead of opening from the back as the haramaki" does.

Modern haramaki refer to a thick cloth undergarment worn around the belly to increase body heat retention during the winter.

See also

References

External links

  • [1] traditional Haramaki photographs
  • [2] Anthony Bryant's web site about construction and history of Japanese armor