SAMURAI O-YOROI: PART 1 - EGAWA

Samurai O-Yoroi: Part 1 - Egawa

Recently a painted Calder Craft Taisho Commander was posted on some figure and modeller websites and was painted full of historical inaccuracies. The colour was vibrant and vivid especially for the flower pattern on the egawa. It was painted in pink, light green and dark green and the Odoshi pattern was inaccurate. The modeller who painted this figure had even stated that some of the colours or patterns were not historically accurate but for him the most important part was the enjoyment building and finishing his model. Well, I am not sure why one could spend the time to paint a historically accurate figure with an in accurate historical colour scheme. Of course one could paint whatever to one’s like it’s your figure. To me it is just another nut case and excuse where the painter either lack of research or ignores any historical accuracy. This is not rivet counting, just my observations and insights and it does not make any sense or disrespect at all. Please check out my previous post under the Remark tab for Artistic License VS Historical Accuracy.

Here is my in-depth look at Samurai O-yoroi’s Egawa and Odoshi.

Part 1: Egawa

What is Egawa (絵韋)?

Egawa is leather decorated with pictorial designs. Egawa has a traditional decorative design or pattern, stenciled or imprinted onto the O-yoroi Do and various parts of the armour since the Heian period (794-1185). These leathers were dyed with patterns like oblique crosshatching, lions, peonies, cherry blossom and Fudō Myō-ō motifs etc. The normal colour of dyed leather is dark blue, almost a black, with highlights or scattered details in red. The patterns are applied using blue and red dye over the natural tanned or smoked raw hide, with Japanese spotted deer leather being a common choice. Period egawa is made using thin metal stencils placed on the surface of the leather. The printer then forces die into the cavities, actually impressing the leather at the same time as it takes the dye. Not until the 16th century a new style of armour called tosei-gusoku (gusoku), which means modern armour appeared. Coloured lacquer and maki-e designs and maki-e technique executed with gold and silver powders are used is drawn on the Do decoration.

Purpose of Egawa

Egawa served both as a decorative element and a functional purpose on the samurai armour, enhancing its appearance and style. They help maintaining the shape of the armour and to create a smooth, snag-free surface for the bowstring preventing the bowstring from catching on the Kozane the head of the armour’s small plates when the warrior was drawing their bow, a crucial function for mounted samurai. 

What are the Egawa patterns?

Egawa patterns were often intricate and highly symbolic. Some of the most common designs include:

• Shi-shi (lion dog): A mythical creature often depicted in traditional Japanese art, representing power and protection.

• Fudo Myoo: A fearsome deity in Japanese Buddhism, often shown surrounded by flames.

• Dragons: Samurai viewed dragons as powerful, benevolent creatures that controlled elements like rain and wind, and were a symbol of strength and good fortune.

• Peonies: A traditional floral motif symbolizing prosperity and good fortune.

• Cherry blossoms (kozakura): A pattern of small cherry blossoms became particularly popular during the Kamakura period. 

Often, the same Egawa pattern was used for a Samurai's entire armour set to maintain a consistent, cohesive design.

What part of the Samurai O-yoroi is covered by Egawa?

 

Egawa covered the following parts of the armour:

• Tsurubashiri no kawa 弦走韋 (chest plate): This is the most visible part on the ō-yoroi, the egawa covers the entire chest of the front of the cuirass (dō) to protect the silk lacing from the bowstring during horseback archery and the parts of the back section of the cuirass. This part is adorned with a central motif. It is also believed to have served the purpose of maintaining the shape of the body. The pattern varies depending on the era.

• Waidate脇楯 (Side Shield ): The separate panel that covers the samurai's right side.

• Mabisash眉庇 (Helmet visor): Metal fitting that is set up on the front of the Kabuto Hachi helmet bowl.

• Fukigaeshi吹返 (Prominent turn backs): The part of the Kabuto that hangs from the rim of the bowl that is folded back towards the front edge of the upper row on both sides (wing-like-ear pieces).

• Wadakami肩上 (Shoulder straps): The straps that extend from the back of the chest, go over both shoulders, and connect to the "mune-ita" (胸板, chest plate).

• O-Sode大袖 (Shoulder guard): The upper panels of the large rectangular shoulder guards.

• Kusazuri 草摺: The skirt-like panels that protected the lower body and thighs. 

• Kyubinoita鳩尾板 (Left chest board): A vertically long iron plate used to protect the left side of the chest armour.

• Sendan no Ita 栴檀板 (Right chest board): The right chest board made up of one solid upper plate, with three hanging plates laced together to protect against attacks by arrows and to guard the gap under the right armpit.

Egawa references

I have this antique Japanese woodblock print book on egawa and fabric pattern in pdf file which I have not released yet. I shall release it after I receive comments on my blog from fellow Samurai figure kit enthusiasts. Thank you for visiting my blog and your comments.