"Chinese Armors of the 4th - 10th C AD" Topic

…tomb figures, grave and religious art seem to display very complicated zoomorphic leatherwork. Haven't seen much represented in the available lines, and the Osprey books are massively slipshod on this topic.

Input?

try here for some modern llustrations

link

Here are some illustrations as well..

link

The links that Mapleleaf andLikui supplied are excellent. the Complex plate with high relief decoration may well be a representation of gods or of tomb guardians and thus not reflect normal military wear . the links. orrectly show this as much more practical.

Likui and Maplefeaf, thanks. I am, tho', familiar with these sources. My contention is that the zoomorphic armors are not nessecarily impractical and may have served specific purposes. My focus is the Turkish influence on N/S to Sui Dynastic stuff where the elaborate leatherwork resembles so much elements of the armor of tarkhans and other elite units.

Zoomorphic design is a common theme in all of Chinese Art The Phoenix and Dragon, as the symbol of the Empress ( Female) and Emperor(Male), is the most common, so it is not surprising to see it carried forward into the details on Chines Armor.

I have the feeling that what survived in both pictoria and actual material is more akin to ceremonial rather then service armpr.

I have attached a link to a site on Ming designs showing how designs of various animals and birds were used to designate ranks There is no reason not to thing that this practice was established very early on in Chinese History and would equally to both military an civil dress.

chinesecostumes.wordpress.com

You might want to check out 画说中国历代甲胄

I can post some pictures if necessary.

"My focus is the Turkish influence on N/S to Sui Dynastic stuff where the elaborate leatherwork resembles so much elements of the armor of tarkhans and other elite units."

That depends on what your sources are for zoomorphic Turkish armour. For example David Nicolle's "Nomadic Hordes" Osprey has a plate of a "Turgesh tarkhan" in elaborate armour with zoomorphic shoulder-pieces: but the source for that isn't Turkish at all, but Soghdian.

GurKhan, I think I remember the McBride plate. Had shoulder protection figured like lions heads if I'm not mistaken. Zoomorphy is a common theme in Central Asian imagery: from Rostom's tiger-headed helmet and animal-head mace, through the Turkic and Scythian arts, to the details on Shang and Zhou bronzes and associated arts. The Soghdian's deployment of the imagery merely indicates the breadth and inclusiveness of the tradition.