What did samurai call their armor?
What did samurai call their armor?
Karuta (カルタ金, karuta-gane) was a type of armour worn by samurai 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.
How heavy is a full suit of samurai armor?
It’s also lightweight, so even the horses the samurai rode didn’t suffer much: An entire suit of armor can weigh 5 kg to 25 kg.
How much did a samurai helmet weigh?
Ō-yoroi weighed around 30 kg or 65 pounds, and the metal of choice was iron. Due to the weight of iron, armour makers limited its use to cover the vitals, and substituted leather for the rest.
How much does a samurai sword weigh?
Katana
| Katana (刀) | |
|---|---|
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 1.1–1.5 kg |
| Blade length | Approx. 60–80 cm (23.62–31.5 in) |
| Blade type | Curved, single-edged |
How were samurai warriors able to acquire European armor?
Through this, the samurai warriors were able to acquire European armor such as the comb morion and cuirass. They were able to modify these together with domestic armor since it offers increased protection against the Tanegashima. In the year 1543, the Portuguese introduced the tanegashima which changed the course of Japanese warfare.
When did samurai start wearing cuirasses?
During the years 794 to 1185 of the Heian period, these cuirasses evolved and developed into a more common style of armor that was utilized by the samurai class. It was called the do or dou. Makers of Japanese armor began utilizing leather with lacquer to weather-proof parts of the armor.
What did the Japanese use to make their armor?
During this period, Japanese armor makers started using leather (nerigawa) and lacquer was used to weatherproof the armor parts. By the time the Heian period ended, the Japanese cuirass had evolved into the shape recognized as being specifically that of the Samurai.
How did the Nanban trade help the samurai?
During the 16th century, Japan started trading with European countries which would be known as the Nanban trade. Through this, the samurai warriors were able to acquire European armor such as the comb morion and cuirass. They were able to modify these together with domestic armor since it offers increased protection against the Tanegashima.