studded helmet with short visor at front and four-tiered, wide spreading laced neck guard; curving face protectors with decorated buckskin, studs, and crests; heraldic metal disc with Sanskrit characters for the Buddhist deity Fudo; pair or thin, bladelike metal kuwagatas at front center with heart cutouts; neck guard held together with green ties; ochre colored knots around borders; has wooden stand

Helmet with ornament bearing seed syllable for Fudō Myōō, 17th century

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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.

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studded helmet with short visor at front and four-tiered, wide spreading laced neck guard; curving face protectors with decorated buckskin, studs, and crests; heraldic metal disc with Sanskrit characters for the Buddhist deity Fudo; pair or thin, bladelike metal kuwagatas at front center with heart cutouts; neck guard held together with green ties; ochre colored knots around borders; has wooden stand