ed with a long triangular section. The mounted cavalry used lances, such as the te-yari (hand spear) and the mochi-yari (held spear). Dress for most armies consisted of a do (armor) which hung box-like from the shoulders. Another type of armor that grew in popularity was the tatami-do (folding armor). It consisted of card-sized or hexagonal shaped metal strips, which were attached to mail. This armor was cheap, easy to make and lightweight. Many Daimyo equipped their samurai with this armor. Samurai helmets were made in six different shapes, each multi-plated in construction and ribbed (each plate overlapping the other). Many samurai had decorations on their helmets. The fanciest designs were worn by the Daimyo. The foot soldiers’ helmet was the jingasa (war hat). It was made of metal or hardened leather and cone shaped. The samurai wore a pair of suneate (shin guards) and haidate (thigh-guards), and a kote (armored sleeves). Some samurai wore a mempo (facemask). Armor was lacquered to protect it from the elements. The colors used were black, brown, gold, and red. As armies amassed, trying to identify allies became more and more difficult. Many samurai started to wear a sashimono (personal banner) on the back of their armor. The sashimono varied in size and color. The symbol on the banner was usually the samurai’s mon (family crest). Other forms of identification were the use of a larger flag called a nobori. The generals carried an uma-jirushi (horse insignia) to identify them in battle. Some Daimyos tried to use a standard uniform in their army by having all red or gold-lacquered armors. Some of the samurai carried flags with Japanese characters on them that when the army fell into formation would tell a poem. In a typical battle both sides would line up a few hundred yards from one another. An arrow would be fired, the one samurai would step forward, fire an arrow and shout his name, and challenge a...
