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Description

"Daimyo"(lord) Samurai (16th century AD)

Commissioned artwork (2006)-Copyright: Christos Giannopoulos

One of the very few Samurai characters I was ever commissioned (and therefore I have little valuable information to offer). The artwork was commissioned by Periscopio publications (Greece) for a military essay about the Samurai.

The particular sample is of Azuchi-Momoyama period (if I remember correctly) and it is a “hybrid” of Japanese and Spanish armor.

Short description: By 1600 some samurai of aristocratic origin, tended to use modified Spanish armor, the so-called Nanban gusoku: this specimen is based on a surviving prototype of the period and consists of a lacquered Spanish cuirass and its carbonated steel neck-guard, “momo-nari kabuto” helmet with iron jaws "Menpo” mask, gilded wooden horns, and the golden coat of arms of the lord - the dragonfly, attached on the pediment), and laminated quorums that protect the shoulders (Sode), thighs (Haidate), forearms (Han Kote) and shins (Suneate) . As an offensive weapon he carries the large cutting Nodachi sword. The “Mon” (紋), or “monshō” (紋章), or “mondokoro” (紋所), or “kamon” (家紋) emblem painted on his Spanish breastplate is one of the variants displayed in Himeji Castle.

(Armor research-commentary-illustration:Christos Giannopoulos)

Description

"Daimyo"(lord) Samurai (16th century AD)

Commissioned artwork (2006)-Copyright: Christos Giannopoulos

One of the very few Samurai characters I was ever commissioned (and therefore I have little valuable information to offer). The artwork was commissioned by Periscopio publications (Greece) for a military essay about the Samurai.

The particular sample is of Azuchi-Momoyama period (if I remember correctly) and it is a “hybrid” of Japanese and Spanish armor.

Short description: By 1600 some samurai of aristocratic origin, tended to use modified Spanish armor, the so-called Nanban gusoku: this specimen is based on a surviving prototype of the period and consists of a lacquered Spanish cuirass and its carbonated steel neck-guard, “momo-nari kabuto” helmet with iron jaws "Menpo” mask, gilded wooden horns, and the golden coat of arms of the lord - the dragonfly, attached on the pediment), and laminated quorums that protect the shoulders (Sode), thighs (Haidate), forearms (Han Kote) and shins (Suneate) . As an offensive weapon he carries the large cutting Nodachi sword. The “Mon” (紋), or “monshō” (紋章), or “mondokoro” (紋所), or “kamon” (家紋) emblem painted on his Spanish breastplate is one of the variants displayed in Himeji Castle.

(Armor research-commentary-illustration:Christos Giannopoulos)