Helmet with ornament bearing seed syllable for Fudō Myōō, 17th century
Unknown Japaneseexpand_more
Iron, gilt copper, deerskin, silk, and lacquerexpand_more
Mary Griggs Burke Collection, Gift of the Mary and Jackson Burke Foundationexpand_more 2015.79.438a-e
On View in Gallery 219expand_more
With its wide-spreading laced neck guard (shikoro) and curving face protectors (fukikaeshi), this helmet is typical of the type used with Japan's classic armor for mounted warriors, oyoroi, constructed by lacing metal or leather pieces together. The heraldic front pieces of this example are particularly dramatic, with extremely long kuwagata (stylized long blades). The central disk is emblazoned with the Sanskrit characters for the Buddhist deity Fudo Myo-o, "the immovable king of brightness." Thus, the owner of this helmet hoped that the fierce implacability of this demigod would accompany him into battle.
Details
- Title
- Helmet with ornament bearing seed syllable for Fudō Myōō
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2015.79.438a-e
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Murase, Art through a Lifetime, no. 821
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
Does something look wrong with this image? Let us know
Zoom in on the left to the detail you'd like to save. Click 'Save detail' and wait until the image updates. Right click the image to 'save image as' or copy link, or click the image to open in a new tab.