Samurai Shin Guard

Left, splint-style, samurai shin guard (shino-zuneate or shino-suneate) of a pair. The base is a rectangular cloth has a pattern of white flowers with green and purple leaves on a brown background. The cloth is edged with blue patterned leather with 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, a panel of brigandine (tateage) protects the knee. Hexagonal iron plates (kikko) are sandwiched between layers of fabric with a top layer of black and red patterned leather. Orange thread sewn through the kikko creates a pattern of faded blue squares where the armor plates sit. Green thread is then sewn around the kikko to create a visible honeycomb pattern. Two long, blue, cloth ties are attached to the splints with green cloth at the top and bottom and serve to tie the shin guard behind the leg. The reverse is of undecorated light blue cloth.