Helmet (Suji-Kabuto)

Japanese

Not on view

The bowl of this helmet is formed from one hundred individual radial iron plates, the overlapping edges of which form ridges (suji). The inscription on the frontal plate now reads jingū (shrine); however, the first character is missing, and it likely originally read Daijingū. This inscription may refer to the Ise Shrine, the most famous Shinto shrine in Japan, which is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu. Wearing or displaying the helmet would thus have invoked divine powers.

Helmet (<i>Suji-Kabuto</i>), Iron, lacquer, copper, gold, silk, copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), Japanese

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Helmet (<i>Suji-Kabuto</i>), Iron, lacquer, copper, gold, silk, copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), Japanese
Helmet (<i>Suji-Kabuto</i>), Iron, lacquer, copper, gold, silk, copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), Japanese
Helmet (<i>Suji-Kabuto</i>), Iron, lacquer, copper, gold, silk, copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), Japanese
Helmet (<i>Suji-Kabuto</i>), Iron, lacquer, copper, gold, silk, copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), Japanese
Helmet (<i>Suji-Kabuto</i>), Iron, lacquer, copper, gold, silk, copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), Japanese
Helmet (<i>Suji-Kabuto</i>), Iron, lacquer, copper, gold, silk, copper-gold alloy (<i>shakudō</i>), Japanese

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