Between the mid-15th century and the beginning of the 17th century, Japan experienced nearly 150 years of brutal civil war. This period in Japan was known as the Sengoku Jidai or the Warring States Era. As multiple clans battled for control over Japan, the Sengoku Jidai was most likely responsible for producing the highest volume of hand-forged armor and weapons in Japan’s history.
Like the ancient knights of Europe, the samurai also lived by a code of ethics and were known for their loyalty to the lords they served.
Through rigorous training and self-discipline, they honed their skills and forged their mental armor. The suits they donned were often more than just physical protection but were also extensions of their personalities. Like the Japanese sword, these suits of armor were often works of art in both function and design.
Echoes of the samurai can still be seen in modern martial arts in Japan and the influence of these ancient warriors are continuously revisited and re-imagined in popular culture through anime, manga and video games.
About the presentation
Let’s journey back in time to get a closer look at the samurai through the armor and weapons they used in battle.
You will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the many pieces that were incorporated into a full suit of samurai armor and see how each piece was worn in a live dressing demonstration.
The armor that will be used in this presentation is a reproduction of a typical style that would have been worn during the Sengoku Jidai, which post-dates the style of armor portrayed in the magnificent woodblock prints featured in TAM’s Echoes of the Floating World.
This presentation will compare and contrast armor from two different eras, drawing from beautiful woodblock prints and a historically reproduced suit of Japanese armor.
Image: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (born Edo, Japan, 1798; died Japan, 1861)
Genda Yoshihira, mid 1840s
Woodblock print
14 5/8 x 10 in. (37.1 x 25.4 cm)
Tacoma Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. James W. Lyon,
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