Page:Brinkley - Japan - Volume 2.djvu/185

 Japanese armour detracted greatly from its work-manlike aspect, especially when the hōro was added,—a curious appendage in the shape of a curtain of fine transparent silk, which was either stretched in front between the horns of the helmet and the top of the bow or worn on the shoulders and back, to turn the point of an arrow. A true bushi observed the strict rules of etiquette with regard even to the garments worn under his armour, and it was part of his soldierly capacity to be able to bear the great weight of the whole without any loss of activity, though the feat would be impossible to any untrained man of modern days. Common soldiers, of course, who went on foot, wore much scantier protection. A comparatively light helmet and corselet generally constituted their panoply.

The Japanese never had a war-horse worthy of the name. The little misshapen ponies which carried them to battle showed some qualities of hardiness and endurance, but were so deficient in stature and massiveness that when mounted by a man in voluminous armour, they looked pain- fully puny. Nothing is known of the early Japanese saddle, but at the beginning of historic times it approximated closely to the Chinese type. By and by, however, a purely Japanese shape was designed. It consisted of a wooden frame so constructed that a padded numnah could be fastened to it. Galled backs or withers were unknown with such a saddle; it fitted any horse.