Domaru Complete guide to understand this light samurai armor
Table of Content
What is Domaru
Domaru (胴丸), also write as Dō-maru or Doumaru in English, is a type of Japanese armor designed for on foot battles, usually wear by lower-ranking samurai and ashigaru (foot soldiers). The name Domaru literally means “Torso wrapping” in English.
History of Domaru
Domaru was first appeared in late Heian Period, about the same time as the Oyoroi armor, Domaru was believed to have been influenced by the "Domaru-style Keiko" armor. However, Domaru was not commonly used at that time, because the mainstream form of battle was one on one mounted archery, high ranking samurai announce themselves, then shooting arrows at each other as they passed by on horseback. Oyoroi and Yumi are the most common equipments for Samurai at that time, Domaru was mostly used by foot soldiers and retainers, without Kabuto or Sode, provided minimum protection. We can find such images from arts in late Heian period, such as the "Ban Dainagon Ekotoba” 伴大納言絵詞.
Later on, the mainstream form of battle has changed to grouped on foot battles, requiring even high ranking samurai or generals need to engage in close combats. The primary weapons are now Naginata, katana, Yari etc, the heavy Oyoroi designed for archery was not longer suitable, and because the increased number of troops, arming all of them with the expensive Oyoroi is not practical . Domaru, with its key features—lightness and ease of movement, easy wearing, and low cost—became the popular choice of armor.
During the Mongol invasions in the late Kamakura period, the form of battle further changed and the need for mobility in armor became even more critical. Although the official armor for upper class samurai was still O-Yoroi. The Domaru began to be worn not only by general and lower-ranking samurai but also by upper-ranking samurai. By the Muromachi period, Domaru had become a common type of armor.
Domaru was called “Haramaki” before Muromachi period, the two terms switched afterward and continued to the present day.
Features of Domaru
The Domaru is made in a single continuous piece, adjustable with ties on the right side, allowing for easy to put on and take off without assistance. The Kusazuri for the thighs was increased from 4 sections in the Oyoroi to 7 or 8 sections, this design better distribute the weight and improving movement.
Unlike the heavy and expensive Oyoroi that used iron kozane (small plates), to reduce the weight and cost, Domaru used leather kozane as well. In the making of Domaru, they will place one iron plate, then one leather plate, and repeating this pattern throughout, this method is called “ichimai-maze 一枚交”. Another method is called “kanamaze 金交”, which mainly used leather plates with iron plates added only at key points like the chest and abdomen.
To further reduce cost, even Kabuto, Sode were removed from Domaru. For example as replacement of sode, the Domaru has smaller iron plates called "gyōyō" (杏葉) hanging from both shoulders.
Some features in Oyoroi like the "tsurubashiri-gawa" (弦走韋, decorative leather on the front to prevent the bowstring from catching), "sendan no ita" (栴檀板, right chest plate), "kyūbi no ita" (鳩尾板, left chest plate), and "wakitake" (脇盾, right flank plate) were removed as well.
However, By the Nanbokuchō period when Domaru was widely used, upper class samurai will fully equipped it with all essential parts like kabuto, sode, haidate, suneate etc.
