Samurai Shin Guard

Left, splint-style, samurai shin guard (shino-zuneate or shino-suneate) of a pair. The base of the shin guard is of light blue silk with gold brocade in a bird and flower pattern. The cloth is edged with patterned blue leather with small white flowers. Five vertical, iron splints (shino) are painted with black lacquer and sewn to the cloth. The central splint has a ridge down the middle to fit over the shin bone. The two inner splints are half-length to account for an unarmored panel (abumi-zure). The abumi-zure is a square of gold-painted leather attached to the lower, inner section of the shin guard to prevent abrasion to and from the stirrups. A mesh of mail (kusari) between each splint connects one to another.

At the upper edge of the shin guard, three overlapping panels of brigandine (tateage) protect the knee. Hexagonal iron plates (kikko) are sandwiched between layers of fabric with a top layer of blue cloth. Tan thread sewn through the kikko creates a pattern of tan squares where the armor plates sit. Red thread is then sewn around the kikko to create a visible honeycomb pattern. The brigandine section is edged with a trim (fusegumi) of decorative white, burgundy and green thread sewn in a herringbone pattern. Two long, purple, cloth ties are attached to the splints with tan cloth at the top and bottom and serve to tie the shin guard behind the leg. The reverse is of undecorated blue cloth.