Collection Details

Konito Odoshi Do-maru Gusoku is a type of Japanese armor said to have belonged and worn by Oda Nobunaga. It features a dark blue (Kon-ito) silk lacing (Odoshi) on a flexible, wrap-around chest armor (Doumaru). This domaru armor was relatively easy to wear and designed for mobility; the skirt of the armour (kusazuri) were divided into at least five sections to allow freedom of movement of the legs and hips. Over time, these practical considerations made this domaru armor the uniform of military commanders such as Nobunaga and had the large sleeves (osode) arm-protectors and a helmet added to the domaru costume.

The central parts of this armor is formed by a method called Keibiki-Odoshi which refers to the chest armor (Do), sleeves (Sode) and skirt of the armor (Kusazuri) being tightly connected with threads or cords creating a tight, gapless weave.

The helmet is of a style called yonjukken suji which is made of forty iron strips that are jointed together and coated with black lacquer. The visor (mabisashi) which fits at the base on the front of the helmet has a horn-shaped ornament (kuwagata) with a gilded bronze fish-roe pattern (nanako-jiedakiku-monbori) carving. Attached to it is the front ornament (maedate) that is black lacquered and features the Oda family crest (mokko-mon) in gold leaf.

This armor has many aspects of a classic domaru armor, but the twelve-sectioned skirt (kusazuri) and the small neck-guards (shikoro)  are unique characteristics of armor made in the late-Muromachi Period.

The Armor is said to have been passed down through the Kashiwabara Domain which was established in 1598 by Oda Nobukane, the younger brother of Oda Nobunaga. Over time it came in the possession of Kenkun Shrine in Kyoto built 1869 on order from Emperor Meiji in order to venerate the spirit of Lord Oda Nobunaga.

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Title

Navy Blue Silk-Laced Armor with Helmet and Wide Arm-Protectors (Konito Odoshi Domaru Gusoku Kabuto Osode-tsuki)

Creator

Unknown

Date

16th century, Muromachi Period

Medium

Iron, leather, lacquer, textile, wood, yak hair, boar bristle, hemp

Physical Dimensions

Torso height: 33.9cm Skirt length: 28.8cm Helmet height: 10.8cm Long sleeve length: 36.4cm

Classification

Battledress

Designation

Important cultural property

Associated Names

Owner

Kenkun Shrine (建勲神社) collection, currently housed or managed in cooperation with Kyoto National Museum.

Source

Kyoto National Museum Item 7 Weblink + Image Source: (https://www.kyohaku.go.jp/jp/collection/meihin/kin/item07)

Display HISTORY

The information on the location and viewing of the item is subject to the owner and exhibitors and might not be current.
Navy Blue Silk-Laced Armor with Helmet and Wide Arm-Protectors
Battledress

Konito Odoshi Do-maru Gusoku is a type of Japanese armor said to have belonged and worn by Oda Nobunaga. It features a dark blue (Kon-ito) silk lacing (Odoshi) on a flexible, wrap-around chest armor (Doumaru). This domaru armor was relatively easy to wear and designed for mobility; the skirt of the armour (kusazuri) were divided into at least five sections to allow freedom of movement of the legs and hips. Over time, these practical considerations made this domaru armor the uniform of military commanders such as Nobunaga and had the large sleeves (osode) arm-protectors and a helmet added to the domaru costume.

The central parts of this armor is formed by a method called Keibiki-Odoshi which refers to the chest armor (Do), sleeves (Sode) and skirt of the armor (Kusazuri) being tightly connected with threads or cords creating a tight, gapless weave.

The helmet is of a style called yonjukken suji which is made of forty iron strips that are jointed together and coated with black lacquer. The visor (mabisashi) which fits at the base on the front of the helmet has a horn-shaped ornament (kuwagata) with a gilded bronze fish-roe pattern (nanako-jiedakiku-monbori) carving. Attached to it is the front ornament (maedate) that is black lacquered and features the Oda family crest (mokko-mon) in gold leaf.

This armor has many aspects of a classic domaru armor, but the twelve-sectioned skirt (kusazuri) and the small neck-guards (shikoro)  are unique characteristics of armor made in the late-Muromachi Period.

The Armor is said to have been passed down through the Kashiwabara Domain which was established in 1598 by Oda Nobukane, the younger brother of Oda Nobunaga. Over time it came in the possession of Kenkun Shrine in Kyoto built 1869 on order from Emperor Meiji in order to venerate the spirit of Lord Oda Nobunaga.

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Navy Blue Silk-Laced Armor with Helmet and Wide Arm-Protectors