Legacy of the Symbolic Samurai Armor: From Africa to Peking
In the turbulent era of the mid to late 1500s, as Japan’s samurai clans clashed in a relentless struggle for power and honor, a tale of craftsmanship and valor emerged, woven into the very fabric of history.
Two expert armor makers, Handa and Iwai, labored furiously in their workshop amongst the sounds of slicing swords and the scent of blooming cherry blossoms. They diligently sculpted the steel plates that would become legendary samurai armor, yet their calloused hands and intense gazes reflected the accuracy of their work. Metalworking, lacquering, and textile artistry are just a few methods Handa and Iwai use to make samurai armor. Metal plates, such as iron or steel, were precisely hammered and fashioned into intricate shapes to start the shaping and forging process. Then, Handa and Iwai applied several coats of lacquer adds protection, durability, and a beautiful finish.
The skilled craftsman Handa had carried on the long tradition of producing armor started by his ancestors. His nimble fingers flew across the materials, infusing each one with strength and the wisdom of his ancestors. Iwai, Handa’s younger brother, had a contagious spirit and was eager to perfect the traditional art forms his sibling taught him.
Iwai was the “sane-uchi,” the one who created the sane that made up the foundational fabric, and Handa was the head artisan, known as the “katch-shi.”
One day, they would be surprised by an unconventional request from Oda Nobunaga, the feudal lord.
Japan was introduced to a captivating stranger named Yasuke in 1579. Towering at an impressive 6 shaku and 2 sun, his deep charcoal skin set him apart in a land of tradition. Crowds surged to glimpse the enigmatic African visitor who’d arrived in Kyoto. Here, he caught the attention of Oda Nobunaga, a formidable feudal lord known for his curiosity.
Yasuke’s uniqueness drew Nobunaga’s interest, leading to an unconventional alliance. This encounter would reshape their lives and Japan’s history, transcending cultural boundaries.
Yasuke, the African warrior, was great at martial arts, and Nobunaga was a great fan of the martial arts. Nobunaga spent many hours practicing this art. He was also a fan of how Yasuke carried the warrior spirit. Yasuke was fluent in Japanese, and he enjoyed dancing and performing Utenzi, a traditional style of Swahili narrative poetry honoring brave acts. All of Yasuke’s great attributes made Nobunaga grow fond of him. Nobunaga treated Yasuke like family.
After a year in Japan, Yasuke became even more interested in Japanese culture. He was intrigued by the symbolism of such simple things. The three main things that stood out to him were the cherry blossom trees, koi fish, and the dragon.
Odo Nobunaga recognized that Yasuke was now ready for battle and thus requested special armor to be fabricated. Handa and Iwai began crafting a Yokohagi Okegawa Ni-mai Do armor for the newcomer to Japan. They selected the iron sheets and carefully shaped them into chest and back plates. The artisans did this by heating, hammering, and curving the iron sheets on Yasuke’s slender body. Leather cords were employed to link the clamshell-like armor together. The hinge on the left side of the armor allowed for securing the armor to the body and the leather straps on the right to tighten it around the body. Layers of silk and cotton padding were added for comfort and protection for the neck. The shoulder claps were made of leather and had the family emblem called the ‘Mon’ made of bronze. Handa and Iwai carefully added all the elements required, such as the powder loop and the iron piece on the back plate for flag bearers, and they ensured the leather would withstand on the battlefield. Yasuke emerged as the unlikely wearer of this masterpiece.
These meticulous and highly skilled artisans worked rapidly to fabricate armor for the first foreign-born man to achieve the status of a samurai warrior. They made sure to include a fierce koi fish, delicate cherry blossoms, a dragon, and vines of unity on his armor, as requested by Nobunaga.
Handa would hand-carve the cherry blossoms on the back plate of the armor. He then added the koi fish design on the powder loop, followed by the dragon. Handa then added many vines along the neck hole of the armor as a symbol of unity. Handa felt that the vines were an excellent addition to demonstrate the shared commitment, giving Yasuke strength and perseverance. As a foreigner in a land where he stood out, vines on Yasuke’s armor signified his integration into the samurai brotherhood. It demonstrates that Handa accepted and trusted Yasuke. Handa paid great attention to detail to perfect Yasuke’s armor.
Yasuke wanted koi fish on his armor because he remembered the tale told by the Japanese; “Each year, thousands of koi leave the sea to swim up the Yellow River. By bravely flapping their fins, they swim upstream against the current and meet at the Dragon Gate waterfall. This waterfall is said to be of such strength that it’s swifter than the arrows of a hundred warriors.” Yasuke was inspired by the fact that to succeed, koi fish face many obstacles; they brave predators, fishermen, and many other dangers. Yasuke wanted to be like a koi fish on the battlefield.
The dragon represents a creature who protects Buddhism and symbolizes the powerful and wise guardians that protect people from danger. Lastly, the cherry blossom signifies a metaphor for the fleeting beauty of living. A single fallen tree symbolizes a fallen warrior who sacrificed their life for another.
The idea of a non-Japanese fighter carrying such a high title was regarded with shock when Nobunaga granted Yasuke the unheard-of rank of samurai. Yasuke set off on a spectacular trip on the Japanese battlefields, making history as the first warrior who was not Japanese. He bravely participated in pivotal battles alongside the mighty Oda Nobunaga in 1582. Their bond, forged in the fire of war, was unbreakable. But Yasuke would also see the tragedy that occurred to his esteemed lord while the battle raged around him. Yasuke was by his lord’s side that fateful night when the malicious Akechi Mitsuhide turned on Nobunaga and set his palace on fire. Oda Nobunaga decided to commit seppuku, an honorable ritual death, as the castle burned down and trapped him within. To ensure that his memory would remain despite tragedy, Nobunaga gave Yasuke an essential task before he passed away: to decapitate him and carry his head to his son along with his legendary sword.
Upon finishing his mission, Yasuke embarked on a journey that eventually led him to China, a realm of emperors, dynasties, and ancient traditions. His formidable combat skills, forged on the battlefields of Japan, caught the attention of the ruthless warlords who wanted to exploit his talents. Yasuke’s reputation as a loyal warrior became a blessing and a curse. Ultimately, Yasuke was captured and brought to China. He was now under the service of the Blood Prince. As the tides of power shifted, Yasuke had to battle against his own. Because of his loyalty towards his feudal lord, internal conflict grew, and his unloyalty towards the Blood Prince would lead him to meet the executioner’s blade, leaving his bloody, legendary armor in Peking, China.
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