雪の下胴
What is Snow Under Armor (Yukinoshita dou)
of Samurai Armor

This is a type of chest armor (Do) style favored by Date Masamune, the lord of Sendai domain. It is also referred to as ‘Sendai Armor’ (Sendaidou). It is a five-plate armor style made by combining one plate each from the front, back, and left side, and two plates from the right side, all of which are held together with hinges. This style was widely used until the end of the Edo period, from the lord to the foot soldiers, in a simplified armor called ‘Okashi gusoku’. It was essentially the uniform of the Date family. It is said to be called ‘Snow Under Armor’ because Masamune brought a craftsman from an area in Kamakura called ‘Yukinoshita’ to Sendai to make it.

See more terms related to samurai armor in this samurai armor glossary

Samurai armor parts explained

Samurai armor history and types