| Transcript |
- even referred to the wearer of this type of armour as tie meng shou (fierce metal beast). This armour was considered very valuable and was sometimes presented as a precious gift. The period of intermittent warfare between the North and the South also saw the rapid development of defensive armour, not only for men, but also for horses, called zhu zhuang (figs, ix, 28). The heavily armoured horses greatly increased the power and effectiveness of the cavalry.
Also from this period is a figure who appears to be wearing armour referred to as a lamellar corselet (figs, viii, 24). This warrior has a long cloak draped over his shoulders, wears a strange cross-marked helmet, and leans on a long sword in front of him.
Towards the end of the Northern Wei dynasty, through the Western and Eastern Wei, Northern Qi and Northern Zhou, and into the Sui period (mid-sixth century to early seventh century), there was no great change in the style of armour that was worn. Armour with breast- and back-plates continued to be used, but gradually cord and plaque armour became the most popular. It was during this period that we find many clay warriors holding long shields, some of which have bossed animal-head (bixie) designs on them to protect the shield bearer from evil (figs, xi, 32). Protective helmets were quite elaborate at this time, as seen in the Royal Ontario Museum�s clay head of a Northern Qi warrior (fig. 31). The helmet has a solid, turtle shell�shaped top, and horizontal rows of scales overlapping on the sides, so that the move�ment of the head and neck would not be impeded.
By the time of the Sui and Tang dynasties, the cord and plaque armour came to be the main defensive armour used. Armour during the Tang period underwent several important changes. For example, the armour came to protect as much as sixty percent of the soldier�s body.
Also, this period is responsible for a far-reaching innovation in the line of armour which would actually be preserved in one form or another right down until the late eighteenth century. This was the combining of the armour with the military uniform, resulting in a light but complete armoured costume. Previously, armour and uniform had been two separate affairs. The armour was normally put on only when making ready for battle, but during the march, the heavy armour was rolled up and carried. The new armoured costume of the Tang period allowed for the comfortable movement of the soldier in battle or on the march.
There were several types of armour in existence during the Tang period. For example, it was recorded that there were thirteen classes of armour manufactured by the Imperial Armoury during the reign of Xuan Zong:
Bright and shining armour or cord and plaque armour (ming guang jia) Shining waist armour (guang yao jia)
Armour of thin scales (xi lin jia)
Armour with shan-shaped (Oj) links (shan wen jia)
Armour of black forged iron (wu zhui jia)
Armour made of white cotton (bai bu jia)
Armour made of black silk taffeta (zao juan jia)
Armour made of cotton stuff (bu bei jia)
Infantry armour (bu bing jia)
Leather armour (pi jia)
Wood armour (mu jia)
Chain armour (suo zi jia)
Horse armour (ma jia)
61
|
|---|
