how much does a samurai armor cost
Samurais have always held a certain allure, a mystique that continues to captivate us even today. Their unwavering code of honor, their martial prowess, and their indomitable spirit have been the stuff of legends. But other than their famous weapon the katana sword, nothing else defines a Samurai more than their iconic armor. With its intricate design and imposing presence, a Samurai in full armor is a sight to behold. But have you ever wondered how much these impressive armors cost? Could every Samurai afford one? Let’s delve into the fascinating world of Samurai armors and their costs.
Table of Content
- Why is Samurai Armor Expensive
- Samurai Armor cost in Ancient Japan: Start from $7,000 USD
- Antique Samurai armor in modern days
- Modern Samurai Armor Cost : Start from $1,800 USD
- Most Expensive Samurai Armor
Why is Samurai Armor Expensive
A set of samurai armor is not cheap. To be more precise, the materials used—such as steel and leather—are not particularly expensive, though they were more costly in ancient Japan due to the country's scarcity of iron resource. The main reason for the high cost of samurai armor lies in its construction. It is made of small plates (called Kozane) connected with cords, featuring numerous decorative elements, even the color and alignment of the cords are designed form various patterns.
Making samurai armor requires skilled artisans proficient in metalworking, lacquering, and other specialized techniques. The process is time-consuming and can take months to complete. Therefore, even in modern times, when material costs are lower than in ancient times, traditionally made samurai armor remains expensive due to the extensive labor and craftsmanship involved.
Samurai Armor cost in Ancient Japan: Start from $7,000 USD.
In ancient Japan, the cost of a full set of Samurai armor varied greatly depending on its quality and the status of the wearer. For instance, a simple suit of armor for an average warrior, likely a Samurai, converted to today’s currency, would cost roughly $7,000 USD. This would be a basis armor with essential armor parts, without any fancy decorations or enhancements components.
On the other hand, the high-end, custom samurai armors, which were decorated with gilded plates of real gold, full body coverage, and intricate decorations, could cost equate to $80,000 or more.
These costs were quite significant in an agrarian society like ancient Japan, where most people lived in what we would consider today as abject poverty. Therefore, these armors were often out of reach for most of the population, and only the wealthy Samurai could afford them. So how much does a samurai earn?
In ancient Japan, when talk about income, people often use the unit “Koku”. A koku is a traditional Japanese measurement used to determine the quantity of rice. It’s the amount of rice that can feed a person for an entire year. In volume, a koku equals about 180 liters. It was also a form of payment for samurais, which they would distribute among their family and servants. In today’s money, a koku of rice is roughly $500, but this can change based on different factors.
The earnings of a Samurai differed based on their status. Upper Samurai typically earned around 100, 200, or 250 koku, which after deductions, amounted to between 22 to 60 koku. Lower Samurai, on the other hand, got stipends of fifteen koku and rations for three, thirteen koku and rations for two, or ten koku and rations for one. Some even got a cash stipend that was less than this. Samurai of middle rank and above had a net income of no more than seven to ten koku. However, less than 12 percent of retainers made 100 koku or more; in fact, a significant majority, about 70 percent of the retainer corps, made 40 koku or less.
Indeed, a good number of Samurai were able to purchase their own armor, they often need to rent armor from their lords, this is called rental armor (Okashi gusoku 御貸具足). However, their choice of armor was often influenced by their financial situation. Some Samurai chose the tatami-gusoku, a less expensive type of samurai armor, over the more traditional forms. This was due to the fact that it was one of the few types of armor they could practically use, a concern that the more affluent upper ranks samurai class didn’t have to consider.
Antique Samurai armor in modern days:
Many factores such as age, condition, and historical significance effects the price of antique samurai armors. On average, a set of Tosei Gusoku from Edo period, in good condition, can easily cost more than $20,000 USD.
Modern Samurai Armor Cost : Start from $1,800 USD.
Buy samurai armor in moderns days is not cheap too, but in compare, it's still an achievable pursuit. This guide has more details about where to buy a samurai armor. Romanceofmen has large selection of Samurai armor, and you even customize your own samurai armor suit here, as low as $1,800 USD.
Most Expensive Samurai Armor
Auction House: Christie's
Location: New York
Date: April 23 2009
Price: $602,500 (approximately 55 million yen)
The armor, “本小札二枚胴具足 Hon Kozane Nimai Do Gusoku," dates back to the Edo period, was sold for $602,500.The estimated auction price was between $250,000 and $300,000 but it was raised a lot.
This armor was owned by the Tokugawa family of the Kishu Domain and is of the highest quality as an art piece.The winning bidder was the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
