A Fighting MonkThe above represents a belligerent monk of the Kamakura epoch. The Buddhists of those days had quite an army of fighting priests to protect their rights, or maintain their ground against rival creeds. He wears his clerical robes over his armor, and his head is covered with the sacred Kesa.
Knight of the Nanhoku-cho PeriodThis knight is armed with an iron club which is one of the characteristic weapons of the time. The chain work protecting the arm and legs, giving more freedom of movement, is also a notable advance.
Warrior of the Ashikaga PeriodThe epoch which follows is known as the Ashikaga period (15th and 16th century), in which the wars of Uyosugi and Hosokawa were the most noteworthy.
The figure represents a warrior just releasing his arrow. The form of the helmet has become more simple, the size of the side wings and hind parts being very small, as compared with the Fujiwara and Kamakura helmets. Notice also the use of large iron plates for the breast-plate instead of small pieces of iron (kozane) joined together, as in the preceding armor.
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