Ming, Qing and Japanese armour components: A brief introduction and analysis

UPDATED NOVEMBER 10, 2022

Left: An unnamed Ming Jin Yi Wei (錦衣衛, lit. 'Brocade-clad guard') in parade gear. Middle: Fu De (富德), a Manchu commander of Plain Yellow Banner. Right: Yamanaka Yukimori (山中幸盛) with his characteristic crescent moon crested helmet.

This blog post is intended to be an introductory article to Chinese armours of Ming and Qing period, their individual components, as well as a comparison between their similarities and differences. I also included a Japanese armour to the analysis in the hope that it can highlight the design considerations that went into each of these armours.

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Shield formation of Luo Gong Chen (羅拱辰) — Part 1

Conjectured image of Luo Gong Chen's shield formation. Image is cropped and doctored from 'Wu Bian Qian Ji (《武編前集》)', 'Ji Xiao Xin Shu (《紀效新書》)' and 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

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Lu Jiao Mu (鹿角木)

Drawing of a Lu Jiao Mu (highlighted), from 'Wu Bei Zhi (《武備志》)'.

Lu Jiao Mu (鹿角木, lit. 'Deer horn wood') was the Chinese name for abatis. It was simply a cut down tree with dense branches, with its trunk partially buried underground.

This defensive weapon had an ancient Roman counterpart, known as Cippus (plural Cippi).

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