Yoroi help needed

[mystic_kendoka]

I have a few questions on yoroi and such...
I'm doing an art project, and would like to have it samurai-based,
The theme is "dressing up in style" so i thought of having someone putting on 'stylish' armour in a typical japanese style room...

My questions are,

1) when putting on yoroi, in which order do the parts get put on?

2) what is worn under the yoroi?

3) would one be able to put the whole thing on himself, or would he need help?

4) how many/which swords would one carry into war when in full armour

5) would the armour be displayed on a rack when not in use? or would it stown away?

6) does anybody have detailed, if possible black and white, drawings/pictures of yoroi, available on the internet?

7) how "decorative" should it be? from a scale of 1~10, 1 being completely practical, to 10 being almost completely ornamental?

8) how big should the ornament on the kabuto be? not sure wat its called, but the cresent moon shaped thingy...

9) wat would a samurai wear on his feet? the same as when he is in armour as he is casually? zoori?

10) and finally, can anyone tell me, which armour i should draw (which looks more stylish and impressive?) the modern rounded shaped ones? or the older more squared and boxy type ones?

Thank you for any help you provide, and im sorry for my lack of knowledge concerning proper terminology...

-Sungi

[Hai_hai]

Here's directions for home-made yoroi:
http://www.fsinet.or.jp/~usa/indexus.html

The one thing that you are going to have to do on your own is training. Training to run as fast as possible in zoori so you don't get a major wedgie from the school bullies. If you don't want to run, pre-tear your underwear.

[moonblade]

My questions are,

1) when putting on yoroi, in which order do the parts get put on?

A: Somewhere on the web is a medieval illustration of a samurai putting on the classic 12th century o-yoroi. I printed it out a million years ago but I can't find the link but I bet you can

2) what is worn under the yoroi?

A: Standard wear (Hakama and Obi) I always admired that the Japanese designed armor you can wear over street clothes

3) would one be able to put the whole thing on himself, or would he need help?

A: Unlike European armor, it can be put on by yourself, but it was definitely easier with someone's help

4) how many/which swords would one carry into war when in full armour

A: Samurai wear the daisho (Katana & Wakazashi), but the Katana or Tashi (an earlier version of the sword, hung from the belt blade down.

5) would the armour be displayed on a rack when not in use? or would it stown away?

A: It depends. If you've seen samurai armor displayed in websites, that's what they did in ancient times. However, they also had large cases that they would carry on carts when they were going to war. There are illustrations in Samurai Warlords.

6) does anybody have detailed, if possible black and white, drawings/pictures of yoroi, available on the internet?

A: There are tons, just Google it. O-Yoroi, Do-Maru Samurai Armor etc.

7) how "decorative" should it be? from a scale of 1~10, 1 being completely practical, to 10 being almost completely ornamental?

A: O-yoroi was both very decorative AND practical. With all the threads woven into it, they were riots of color but perfectly designed against the types of weapons used against it.

8) how big should the ornament on the kabuto be? not sure wat its called, but the cresent moon shaped thingy...

A: Not sure, but I would guess it depends on the family crest. It varies.

9) wat would a samurai wear on his feet? the same as when he is in armour as he is casually? zoori?

A: I've seen both sandals (is that zoori?) or furry boots for colder weather.

10) and finally, can anyone tell me, which armour i should draw (which looks more stylish and impressive?) the modern rounded shaped ones? or the older more squared and boxy type ones?

A: I personally like the later ones. They're more efficient and frankly, easier to draw.

Hope this helps.

[mystic_kendoka]

i guess it would be easier, since im also gna be painting it...

PS: "Standard wear (Hakama and Obi)" could u tell me wat was worn above it? isnt the obi a belt/sash? or is that how the top is called?

[moonblade]

I had thought obi also meant the shirt or robe men wore. But I'm not sure. However, the point is that what you see samurai wearing in daily life is what was underneath their armor. Often, for richer nobles, very fine outfits were worn when going to war.

[mystic_kendoka]

sorry for asking, but are you american?
my IT teacher always says :
someone who speaks 4 languages: multilinguist
someone who speaks 3 languages: trilinguist
someone who speaks 2 languages: bilinguist
someone who speaks only 1 language: American

[Bleda]

Most south american countries only speak one language, many non-frenchcanadians only speak one language. Heck a ton of brits only speak one language. Thats a pretty base statement your teacher is making there.

Also 4 languages+ is a polyglot.

[mystic_kendoka]

obviously its a racist comment, and therefore not relevant to ALL americans, its just a joke! actually my teacher is american too... so its a self pity sorta thing...

[mystic_kendoka]

could anyone suggest wat setting the background should be in? wat sort of room? furniture?

[mystic_kendoka]

also, when having armour put on, would one be standing or sitting?

[Wout]

ehm, well it's no good having an armor if you're only going to sit in it


actually standing would be more logical I guess since armor isn't made for sitting, besides if you want to show the full armor standing would be more logical. Apart from that, it seems hard to keep up a helmet when sitting (apart from odd).

[hamish]

There's a good book, Secret Arts of the Samurai, or something like that, which, from memory, has all the details in it, as well as the diagram mentioned above. An Amazon search might bring it up.

regards

[Eldritch Knight]

Bushi didn't wear zori into battle. The mere fact that they're sandals makes moving backwards a huge hassle. They wore waraji instead (a bit like Roman sandals that secured the whole foot) with a very long set of tabi. Additionally, the type of hakama they wore was definetely different from the one that they would wear on the street. They were narrower and tied tightly around the calves.

[not-I]

There's a good book, Secret Arts of the Samurai, or something like that, which, from memory, has all the details in it, as well as the diagram mentioned above. An Amazon search might bring it up.

Oscar Ratti / Adele Westbrook: Secrets of the Samurai - The Martial Arts of Feudal Japan.
Your memory serves you well and the diagram lists the steps as follows:

1. Short Fundoshi
2. Long Fundoshi
3. Shitagi and Obi
4. Kobakama
5. Tabi
6. Kyahan
7. Waraji
8. Sune-Ate
9. Haidate
10. Yugake
11. Kote
12. Wakibiki
13. Do
14. Uwa-Obi
15. Sode
16. Daisho
17. Nodowa and Hachimaki
18. Mempo, Kabuto

Looks like you've got your work cut out for you, Mystic

[moonblade]

I am american lingual to answer your question, but I did learn Spanish in the distant past and can read Hebrew. I'm telling you Mystic, you've gotta find that series of illustrations, it's amazing. If I can find it I will.