A RED-LACQUER SUIT OF ARMOR

Edo period (1615-1868), 18th/19th century

Edo period (1615-1868), 18th/19th century
The components lacquered red and laced in white with orange highlights, the iron zunari kabuto embossed with eyebrows and wrinkles and mounted with a five-lame Hineno-style shikoro; the hanbo with a four-lame yodarekake; the dangae (literally "step-changing") cuirass chiefly of hishinui construction but with kiritsuke kozane making up the lower section, fitted with seven sections of five-lame kusazuri; the chu-sode on kote of chain mail and small plates; the kawara haidate of leather plates and the shino suneate with chain mail between the splints; with an armor stand and a wood armor storage box

Red-lacquer armors were popularized by the Ii family, retainers of the Tokugawa family. Ii Naomasa (1561-1602) was the first to wear a red suit of armor into battle. It was believed that a blood-red suit could offer a psychological advantage. Subsequent generations were said to have fielded entire armies in red armors, complete with red battle standards.