Wakibiki
Encyclopedia
Wakibiki are a Japanese armour
component that were worn by the samurai
class of feudal Japan. Wakibiki are a form of arm pit protector, that along with the manju no wa and manchira were auxiliary forms of armored clothing worn underneath (sometimes over) the chest armor (dou or dō) for protection of certain areas of the underarm, shoulder, chest and neck. These auxiliary armors would be covered with solid iron or leather plates, kusari (chain armour), karuta (small square or rectangular plates), kikko (hexagon plates) or a combination of these armors which were sewn to a cloth backing. The tate-eri is another form of armored padding.
The manju no wa , ( also manjunowa or manju nowa ) are a combination of shoulder pads, collar and armpit guards in one that protected the upper chest area. Manju no wa were covered with different types of armor including kusari (chain armour), karuta (small square or rectangular armor plates), or kikko (hexagon plates), these iron or leather armors or a combination of them were sewn to a cloth backing. The armor could be exposed or hidden between a layer of cloth. When worn the manju no wa looked like a small tight fitting vest. Manju no wa have small wings that would pass under the arm pit area from the back and attach to the front of the manju no wa with a button, toggle or ties.
The manchira is type of armored vest covered with different types of armor including kusari (chain armour), karuta (small square or rectangular armor plates), or kikko (hexagon plates), these iron or leather armors or a combination of them were sewn to a cloth backing. The armor could be exposed or hidden between a layer of cloth. Manchira are usually larger than manju no wa and protected the chest area and sometimes the neck and arm pit. Some manchira could be worn over the chest armor dou (dō) .
The tate-eri is a small padded pillow like piece with a standing armored collar that sits on the shoulder to protect from the weight of the chest armor (dou or dō) The standing collar would be lined with kikko (hexagon plates) armor to protect the neck.
Japanese armour
Armour in Japan has a history that goes back as far as the 4th century. 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 was seen on the battlefield both on...
component that were worn by the samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
class of feudal Japan. Wakibiki are a form of arm pit protector, that along with the manju no wa and manchira were auxiliary forms of armored clothing worn underneath (sometimes over) the chest armor (dou or dō) for protection of certain areas of the underarm, shoulder, chest and neck. These auxiliary armors would be covered with solid iron or leather plates, kusari (chain armour), karuta (small square or rectangular plates), kikko (hexagon plates) or a combination of these armors which were sewn to a cloth backing. The tate-eri is another form of armored padding.
Description
The wakibiki is a simple rectangle of cloth covered with kusari (chain armor), karuta (small rectangular or square plates), or kikko (hexagon plates), these iron or leather armors or a combination of them were sewn to the cloth backing. Wakibiki could also be made from one solid piece of iron or hardened leather. The wakibiki had cords connected to them which allowed the wakibiki to hang from the shoulder, the wakibiki was then suspended over the exposed arm pit area. Wakibiki were worn inside the of the chest armour dou (dō) or on the outside depending on the type.The manju no wa , ( also manjunowa or manju nowa ) are a combination of shoulder pads, collar and armpit guards in one that protected the upper chest area. Manju no wa were covered with different types of armor including kusari (chain armour), karuta (small square or rectangular armor plates), or kikko (hexagon plates), these iron or leather armors or a combination of them were sewn to a cloth backing. The armor could be exposed or hidden between a layer of cloth. When worn the manju no wa looked like a small tight fitting vest. Manju no wa have small wings that would pass under the arm pit area from the back and attach to the front of the manju no wa with a button, toggle or ties.
The manchira is type of armored vest covered with different types of armor including kusari (chain armour), karuta (small square or rectangular armor plates), or kikko (hexagon plates), these iron or leather armors or a combination of them were sewn to a cloth backing. The armor could be exposed or hidden between a layer of cloth. Manchira are usually larger than manju no wa and protected the chest area and sometimes the neck and arm pit. Some manchira could be worn over the chest armor dou (dō) .
The tate-eri is a small padded pillow like piece with a standing armored collar that sits on the shoulder to protect from the weight of the chest armor (dou or dō) The standing collar would be lined with kikko (hexagon plates) armor to protect the neck.
External links
- http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:YGUCsMIhbRMJ:www.icom-cc.org/54/document/from-historic-interiors-to-the-conservation-studio-a-route-to-knowledge-of-a-japanese-multi-material-textile-from-the-stibbert-museum-in-florence/%3Faction%3DSite_Downloads_Downloadfile%26id%3D790+manchira&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShjFvK4R-4c1yfGDzps2HBn8NG8U-rLu3KoNzqaLYiUMxhueXByyTzGiRD7PvwZBJnHxUrRbjGez_Exc4_xLd31mLJWpws7F4dsdEEXe4w-t8kfbSTqAFFlhhJxnqcW9gx0GWA9&sig=AHIEtbRwGfo2CyVcGsdUfXfRMKDvxlBDPQExamination and restoration of an antique Japanese manchira]
- Anthony Bryants web site.
- Pattern from Anthony Bryants web site.