The Armour Archive

One of the benefits of living in Japan, aside from the interesting food selections and the feeling that you are an extra in a Felleni movie...is the chance to see real nice armour in the flesh.

I found the following at the Husashi Hitake Shrine on top of Mt. Hitake. The shrine was supposed to have been established around 2000 years ago. The word Hushashi means "a storehouse for arms".
http://www.geocities.com/rainaldk/redarm01.jpg

According to the museum next to the shrine this is one of the three best armours in Japan.
It's "Akaito-Odoshi Oyoroi" (big armor made of red cords, a national treasure, from the end of the Heian era, circa ~1200. Shigetada Ilatakeyama, who was one of the famous samurai warriors in the 12th c., was said to have dedicated it to this shrine.



[This message has been edited by Rainald (edited 11-21-2000).]

Rainald you bastard you are making me homesick!

That is a really great shrine. Have you had a chance to hit Kyoto yet?

Funny I just found an authentic suite circa 1650 to 1700 at the Local natural histoy muesem near Oklahoma City I spoke with the curator they know almost nothing about it if any one would like to help them e-mail me and I will give you their info. The armour was interesting not very fancy but look as if it had been used a lot of wear on the lining in it. This muesem is interesting they didn't even know they had it until recently or what it was, they also misplaced a triceritops skull for 50 years this skull happens to be the largest land animal skull ever found.
Opps I forgot I will try to get back tthere and get some pictures of it soon and post them.

[This message has been edited by The Lost Scott (edited 11-22-2000).]

Be sure to let Barron Eddie know about it...