Samurai Shin Guard

Left, splint-style, samurai shin guard (shino-zuneate or shino-suneate) of a pair. The base of the shin guard is a tan, rectangular cloth with brown brocade in an cloud and dragon pattern. The cloth is edged with blue fabric. Seven 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 three inner splints are half-length to account for an unarmored panel (abumi-zure). The abumi-zure is a square of orange patterned leather with a repeating pattern of white dots in the shape of crosses. This panel is attached to the lower, inner section of the shin guard to prevent abrasion to and from the stirrups. Five narrow, horizontal bands of mail (kusari) connect the splints to one another. Unlike many shin guards, the base cloth continues above the splints to cover the knee but has no armored plates and does not provide knee protection. Two long, cloth ties, made from the same base fabric as the shin guard, 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 orange cloth.