Monkey Mempo

I was asked to help to identify this monkey mask/mempo.

First of all what is Samurai mempo?

Mempo is the term for various types of facial armor worn by the samurai class and their retainers in feudal Japan.

Men-yoroi (面鎧), also called menpō (面頬) or mengu (面具) is an armored face mask used by samurai warriors to cover their face and nose, below their eyes. Menpo was born in the late Heian period, and since then, various types have been created depending on the parts of the face to be protected and their uses. It is said to have become widespread from the end of the Muromachi period through the Azuchi-Momoyama period.

From the Muromachi period onwards, Menpo was used not only as protective gear but also as a means to intimidate the enemy. As a result, the design become more than a simple protective gear, but also with various expressions using motifs that resemble human faces, animal faces, monsters, and gods and Buddhas. 

The Men-yoroi usually had exaggerated features— warts, moustache, beards and even silver or gold teeth. The mask was made of steel or leather and its inner surface was covered with red lacquer because it was believed that the color gave the samurai a reddish, warlike appearance. The inner surfaces of the shikoro, mabizashi and kabuto were covered with the same lacquer. 

 

Under the title Men-yoroi (面鎧), there are many types of samurai masks, including:

Happuri 半首 Half-neck is a type of Menpo (face guard) that covers from both cheeks to the forehead, protecting the face from incoming arrows and other attacks. It emerged around the late Heian period and was widely used until the Nanboku-cho period.

Hanbo 半頬 Half-Cheek is basically a chin-guard which some occasion could reach the cheeks that covers the chin and lower cheek area which was developed during the Nanboku-chō period (1336 ~ 1392). This new form of mengu replaced the happuri (open face mask) and would eventually lead to the hoate then menoshita-bô (目の下頬)It is the oldest menpo and probably the only one the Samurai really used in the battles.

Hoate 頬当 Cheek-Armour is a Menpo that protects the face from both cheeks to the chin and the neck, in contrast to the Happuri. The hoate were commonly refereed by samurai warriors as a battle mask and was the Men-yoroi (facial armor) of choice by many samurai on the battlefield. It provided jaw and chin protection without impeding vision or breathing. 

 

Hitaiate 額当 is a Menpo that protects the front half of the forehead. It is not clear when the Hitaiate began to be used, but it is thought that it was used when the Happuri was replaced by the Hoate.

Menpo, short for Men no Shita men/ Me no Shita bo 目の下頬 Under-eye cheek refers to a type of Menpo that protects the lower half of the face covers the face from nose to chin, similar to a mask. The oldest existing Me no Shitabo dates back to the Muromachi period and was widely used by warlords during the Sengoku period.

Somen 総面 is a type of Menpo that protects from the forehead to the chin and throat, resembling a mask. It includes a tare that hangs down to protect the wearer’s face completely, providing high level defensive. A mask that covers the entire face. It was used to protect the face, which was vulnerable, from attacks by arrows and swords. It appeared during the Nanboku-cho period.

There are two types of full faces: full faces without noses and full faces with noses. The former is shaped like a combination of half a neck and half a cheek, while the latter has an additional part below the eyes to protect the forehead (frontal area), and is designed to cover the entire face like a mask. It also has a tatami under the chin. It completely covers the wearer, providing a high level of protection.

Now back to the Monkey mask/ mempo.

Here is what I have disclosed. 

The article indicates on the above picture is roughly translated as follows:

Izushi Shrine collection (出石神社蔵)

The design is unparalleled in terms of surprise. A helmet that accompanies the leather wrapping toseigusoku worn by Hidehisa Sengoku's (仙石秀久)vassal, Shusui Tanizu (谷津主水), in the Siege of Osaka. Because it is made with tension, it weighs only 1.2 kg. While many helmets weigh 3 to 5 kilograms, they are as light as Jinkasa 陣笠 (Samurai hat). It is said that monkeys are better, and they are quick to handle. It's only natural that you want to survive dangerous situations on the battlefield and get credit for success. One of the aims is that if you wear such a helmet, because the face is completely hidden when worn, there was an eerie feeling that the wearer's identity was unknown. You will not be able to tell whether you are an elderly military commander or a young military commander. The armorer must have a hard time to respond to the request to make such a helmet from the orderer.

I have also located another article on this monkey mask/mempo. It translated as follows:

It's a monkey! It's a monkey helmet with an outstanding presence! The monkey mask is beautifully expressed from texture to color. There are holes in the ears to make it easier to hear sounds. Just imagine... this helmet hiding in plain sight among enemy lines...

Image: Monkey-shaped helmet bowl (Toyooka City designated cultural property) Izushi Shrine (Hyogo Prefecture) Storehouse

Some more pictures on Shusui Tanizu's "Monkey face Kabuto" 谷津主水所用の兜『猿面形兜』

I found a hundred year old picture of the same monkey mempo. It looks like it still had hair when the picture was taken.

Similar monkey mempo 

Saru Monkey Mempo. 18th Century, Momoyama-Edo Period

From the Bonhams auction, New York September 15, 2015

A FESTIVAL HELMET DESIGNED AS A MONKEY - Edo period (late 18th century)

Sold for US$ 9,375

The simple iron bowl formed at the front as a monkey's face lacquered red and black, the top covered in horse hair, mounted with a three-lame shikoro with small fukigaeshi, lacquered red and laced in blue.

Illustrations showing how the mempo and armour would look like. May be I should do a figure base on that.

Thank you for looking!