The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1904-03-25
WEAPONS JAPANESE
Among Them ,..' ,", L. the Most
Important and Is Finely
Made.
JAPANESE
WEAPONS


In the Detroit Museum of Art Is ar
Interesting collection of war impe
ments Of Old Japan. The collection wa
made 10y Mr Frederick Stearns In
Japan some Is years ago. when com
paratlyely few tourists from this quar-
ter Of the world visited that country
and when japanese cities were surfeit.
ed with the implements which wer,
supplanltd In 1870 by the Introduction
OF modern methods Of warfare and the
abolishmcnt Of the feudal system, says
the Detroit Tribune.
TWO complete suits Of armOr are In
the collection. one of these dates back
from the sixteenth century; the other
Is OF more modern date. hut exactly
like II In all its parts 4 complete suit
OF armor as worn by the japanese sol
dicrs Of the higher class previous Ia
1870 consists Of n helmet. chain mail in
parts ana breast armor, together with
two hip pieces. Chain mail pan'aloons
lined with SILK brocadc. protect the
thighs. They are worn under the hin
pieces. An iron mask covers In some
cases the entire visaCc. in others only
the nose, checks and chin. allowing the
eyes TO he uncovered. and these arc
protected by the broad helmet. The
shoulders are protected by two pieces
with fine bronze open work mOuntings
Upon those are Gt'inos in which In
battles small flag Is fastened bearing
the crest or Eunc.ram Of the wcarcr
Chain or armOr sleeves protect the
arms. The bnck of the hand is protect
ed by embossed iron 4 body plcg" Gov
ers the chest and back. b ia together
by tyings Of heavy sill, green braid In
the back Of this are TWO sockets for the
banner pole The helmet is made Of
heavy ll,qutr,d iron Two rrcsts
branch from the front In moon
shaped manner and between them n
brun2" dlsL representa- = the sun. 4 pair
Of sandals completes the outfit This
armor is exceedingly heavy and looks
imprcgnahIc Ia such weapons a. were
used
The lance ard how were noble wcap-
ons. but the sword outranFcd them
A sword with the japanese in foudal
times was the most important Of all
weapons in war and for personal use
lycyasu, who was the first great ShO-
gun of TokuGawa. l6lU-lG3O. termed the
sword THE Soul of the Samurai" To
him II was the most important o; his
possessions
Upon this weapon the Japanese law
ished all the resources OF their art The
forging of the blade became n high art.
and its experts won great honor and
fame; the making Of n famed blade
was subject Of meditation and pray
er, upon the scahbard was lavishcd all
the laQuerer's skill. to the guard and
other metal mornings were given an
infinite variety Of lessons from nature
and her creatures and from tho rcig-
iOus and symbolic legends The higher
classes wore two. and the children of
these classes commenced in early youth
TO wear wooden ones The proper use
~ lUf NNhli "dS Illdbt part VI NV
system Of education. and the rcrc-
monies attending It's use In everyday
life were most elaborate and minute.
The abolition Of the Shogunate in
1868 was soon followed by n decree
abOlshlng the wearing Of the sword
hence, there came into disusc hundreds
OF thousands of beautifully decorated
weapons. which have hecn distributed
all over the world by purchasing tour
lists. and thousands. deprived Of their
ornaments, have been converted into
more peaceful forms. such as knives
tools. etc.
station could be determined by the
sword he wore at his side A person
magniiicently garhed with an ordinary
weapon wOult be adjudgcd OF low de-
gree. while 4 poorly dressed person
wearing a FIN. sword would be extend
ed distinguished homage a fortune
was invested IN arms. A rich noble Of
ten possessed 500 swords, some Of
them costing 81 400. and the daimios
We'd with each other In owning elegant
specimens of the armoTer's craft All
the metal work Of Japan. the beautiful
designs. and exquisite hammcring. are
iuc 10 the many wars The ornamen-
tation Of the guard and swords aces
sOries have been the craze of tourists
and collectors for 30 years.