STUART PYHRR: The Metropolitan’s collection is particularly rich in archeological material that came from the tombs of the early Japanese warriors.

NARRATOR: Stuart Pyhrr.

STUART PYHRR: Prior to the introduction of Buddhism, warriors were buried in tumuli, these burial mounds underground, and were interred with their weapons and equipment. What we know of early Japanese arms and armor is coming out of these tombs. This helmet dates from the Kofun period about the fifth century A.D., a time when the construction of the helmets, and armor in general, was based on the Asian continent from China and Korea, introduced into Japan. And this helmet clearly belonged to a high ranking soldier, perhaps a commander or even a noble, in that its iron surfaces are covered with gilt copper, and that is very, very unusual. Some parade helmets were made solely of gilt copper—most helmets were of iron—this combines the two materials.

The construction is typical for Asian armor, in that it’s made of small rectangular scales or plates put together in rows and connected by horizontal bands. The helmet’s been reconstructed from the pieces out of the tomb, and approximates the original construction, with this curtain-like defense extending down the back of the neck and around the sides of the face, much as it will be found on later Japanese helmets, helmets of many centuries later.