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was a type of
File:Karuta tatami dou and zukin.JPG, Antique Japanese (samurai) karuta tatami dou (dō) and karuta tatami zukin (hood).
File:Karuta zukin.JPG, Antique Japanese (samurai)karuta tatami zukin (hood).
File:Antique Japanese karuta katabira 1.JPG, Antique Japanese (samurai) karuta katabira (jacket).
File:Karuta haidate.JPG, Antique Japanese (samurai) karuta haidate.
File:Karuta armor close up.JPG, Karuta armour close up view.
Anthony Bryant's online Japanese armour manual
{{Types of armour Samurai armour
was a type of armour
Armour (British English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or fr ...
worn by samurai
were the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan from the late 12th century until their abolition in 1876. They were the well-paid retainers of the '' daimyo'' (the great feudal landholders). They h ...
warriors and their retainers during the feudal era of Japan. The word ''karuta'' comes from the Portuguese word meaning "card", (''carta'') as the small square or rectangular plates that compose the armour resemble traditional Japanese playing cards.
Description
Karuta armor is a form of lightweight, folding armor known as "tatami". The "karuta" are small square or rectangle plates of iron or leather connected to each other by kusari ( chain mail) or laced to each other, with the plates sewn to a cloth backing, individual karuta armour plates could also be sewn directly to a cloth backing without being connected to each other. Chest armor was commonly made from karuta (''karuta tatami dō''). Karuta jackets (''karuta katabira'') were also made. Various other parts of armor were made from karuta including thigh guards (''karuta haidate''), shoulder guards (''karuta sode'') and karuta hoods (''karuta zukin''). Karuta armor was worn by all classes of samurai, even the foot soldiers ('' ashigaru''). High quality armor was more elaborate and ornate, while the lower quality sets of armor were plain but offered basic protection. Small amounts of karuta armor plates could be added in certain locations to different styles of samurai armor where extra protection was needed. If the majority of the suit of armor was made from karuta then it is considered karuta armor. Ian Bottomley, in his book ''Arms and Armor of the Samurai: The History of Weaponry in Ancient Japan'',Ian Bottomley & A.P. Hopson "Arms and Armor of the Samurai: The History of Weaponry in Ancient Japan" p.88 shows a karuta breastplate and a karuta helmet (''kabuto
' (兜, 冑) is a type of helmet first used by ancient Japanese warriors which, in later periods, became an important part of the traditional Japanese armour worn by the samurai class and their retainers in feudal Japan.
Note that in the Jap ...
'').
Gallery
See also
* Japanese armour * Tatami (Japanese armour) *Kusari (Japanese mail armour)
''Kusari gusoku'' (chain armour)(鎖具足) is the Japanese term for mail armour. Kusari is a type of armour used by the samurai class and their retainers in feudal Japan. When the word ''kusari'' is used in conjunction with an armoured item it us ...
* Kikko (Japanese armour)
* Plated mail
Mail and plate armour (plated mail, plated chainmail, splinted mail/chainmail) is a type of mail with embedded plates. Armour of this type has been used in the Middle East, North Africa, Ottoman Empire, Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam, Central ...
References
External links
Anthony Bryant's online Japanese armour manual
{{Types of armour Samurai armour