Helmet Crest (Maidate)
Not on view
This helmet crest (maidate) is in the form of a kirin. In Taoism the kirin is one of the four supernatural creatures, along with the dragon, the phoenix, and the thousand-year tortoise (Japanese, minogame). The kirin is sometimes considered the embodiment of the five elements (water, fire, wood, metal, and earth) and the most perfect animal in creation.