Samurai Shin Guard

Right, splint-style, samurai shin guard (shino-zuneate or shino-suneate), one of a pair. The base of the shin guard is of blue silk with green brocade of trees bearing fruit and large birds with wings forming a circle. The cloth is edged with blue fabric. Seven vertical, iron splints (shino) are painted gold, then with a semi-transparent red lacquer, and then 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 black-painted leather attached to the lower, inner section of the shin guard to prevent abrasion to and from the stirrups. Seven narrow, horizontal bands of mail (kusari) connect the splints to one another.

At the upper edge of the shin guard, a panel of brigandine (tateage) protects the knee. Hexagonal iron plates (kikko) are sandwiched between layers of fabric with a top layer of green leather. Burgundy thread sewn through the kikko creates a pattern of burgundy squares where the armor plates sit. Tan thread is then sewn around the kikko to create a visible honeycomb pattern. Two long, blue, cloth ties are attached to the splints at the top and bottom and serve to tie the shin guard behind the leg. The reverse is of undecorated blue cloth.