Indigo-dyed leather lamellar belly protector (haramaki) laced with white thread (odoshi), supposedly dedicated by Ashikaga Takauji. With two gorgets/throat protectors (nodowa)

Indigo-dyed leather lamellar belly protector (haramaki) laced with white thread (odoshi), supposedly dedicated by Ashikaga Takauji. With two gorgets/throat protectors (nodowa)​

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Nationally Designated Important Cultural Property (designated 1901)
Made: Nanbokuchō period (14th century)
Henmyōin temple, Senzu, Ushimado
Dimensions:

Body: Height: 29.7cm, Circumference: 79.0cm

Protective skirt: Height: 27.0cm

　This cuirass is made of iron and leather lamellae coated with black lacquer, laced together with indigo-dyed leather. 
　The haramaki is the simplest style of Japanese armour, which is wrapped around the body and connected at the back. It was worn by lower-ranking samurai, while warlords wore the larger and more complex ōyoroi. However, during the 14th century styles of warfare started to gradually change and the haramaki, which is light and maneuverable, also became popular among warlords. As such, from this period more elaborately crafted haramaki start to appear. This haramaki is thought to have been made for such a warlord and was supposedly dedicated to the temple by Ashikaga Takauji (1305-58), the famous warlord who established the Muromachi shogunate. ​

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​  Cultural properties in Setouchi city​