Samurai Thigh Guard

Armored samurai thigh guard (etchu-haidate) of mail with splints. The two joined panels hang below the cuirass to protect the thighs. The exterior fabric is dark blue with a small, repeating, gold brocade of ivy and birds, or possibly phoenixes. The interior fabric is brown. The upper sections are unarmored. Two flaps on the sides of each panel secure the thigh guard around the wearer's thighs with a button and loop. The entire guard is edged with green cloth. The upper edge is closed with tan fabric that extends to form straps that tie around the wearer's waist. A short, burgundy cord is attached at the center, between the two panels, to attach the thigh guard to the rest of the armor. The entire lower section of each panel is covered with mail (kusari) and ten small splints (ikada) in rows of three, four, and three. The thigh guard extends down above the knee. To protect the knee, plates in the shape of a chrysanthemum with an outer ring of petals broken out into four sections are attached.