Minneapolis Institute of Art
Helmet with ornament bearing seed syllable for Fudō Myōō
Japan
- Date
- 17th century
- Medium
- Iron, gilt copper, deerskin, silk, and lacquer
- Department
- Asian Art
- Institution
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
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, ōyoroi, constructed by lacing metal or leather pieces together. The 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 Fudō Myō-ō, the immovable king of brightness. Thus, the owner of this helmet hoped that the fierce implacability of this demigod would accompany him into battle. Asia
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