At the juncture of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the development of leather armor reached its peak, and the far-reaching influence of the armor became a very mature armor type. The armor was made of painted leather pieces on the surface, and the armor pieces on the body were large rectangular, with small sleeves, and backpressed from bottom to top to allow the movement of the arms.

By the Qin Dynasty, the rectangular pieces of the zijia have become increasingly small, making them more close and flexible. At the same time, the embellishment technology also distinguishes between yin and yang lines. Yin and yang lines are not terms, but just in terms of surface characteristics.

The yang line has been used below the chest and sleeves of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. It is suitable for parts such as arms and waist that need to move. It is characterized by a long longitudinal rope segment between the nail pieces. The yin line appears more refined with the back of the chest and back of the nail piece. It is characterized by only a few extremely short rope segments exposed on the surface of the nail piece, and the upper, lower, left and right between the nail pieces, and suitable for parts such as chest and back that do not need to move.

At this point, the specifications of the black and yang lines have been basically formed when the abras are overlapped, and China A will continue to develop along this path.

Entering the Western Han Dynasty, where the steelmaking industry was booming, iron armor gradually replaced the former status of leather armor. At the same time, iron armor was differentiated into exquisite fish scale armor and ordinary armor. Fish scale armor was the result of the peak of the armor. The entire set of armor can exceed 2,200 pieces, and the armor sheets are stacked and densely packed like fish scales. Considering the steelmaking level at that time, there is no doubt that only prominent people can wear it. In fact, even compared with later iron armor, the Western Han Dynasty fish scale armor is still a fine product, because under the premise that everyone knows about steelmaking, the determination of the quality of iron armor is only artificial. Fish scale armor has never been popular in the past dynasties, and thicker or thinner armor has always been the standard armor for soldiers to resist cold weapons.

The Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties were important transitions to the development of armor styles. The trunking armour, Liangdang armour and Mingguang armour that appeared one after another, added a soothing movement between the armor styles that seemed to be irrelevant between the Han and Sui and Tang Dynasties. The motivation of war has made the quality of iron armor almost magically improve. Legend has it that Zhuge Liang's sleeve armour can withstand the shooting of a powerful crossbow with a pulling force of nearly 670 kilograms. I really don't know who can start this crossbow. No one can open it, so why should the index be so high. The legend can be discussed, but it at least reflects the importance of the quality of iron armor at that time.

In the prosperous Southern and Northern Dynasties, arrows and cavalry armor were catching up with each other. As hostages of arrows, war horses had to wear heavy armor, which led to the birth of Chinese heavy cavalry in Europe 900 years. The leather armor of chariots and horses in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period may be considered the earliest armor, but the design of armor was not yet complete until the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Only armor can be called complete armor. If armor has flashy content, it may be the high parasite on the horse's buttocks, which seems to be only suitable for showing the high fighting spirit of the horse when going out to war or triumphant.

The most famous armor in the Sui and Tang dynasties was the Mingguang Armor. Its body armor consisted of 4 base plates, 2 pieces of each chest and back, and each had a large round guard on it. Judging from the name of Mingguang, the round guard should be made of high-quality steel, while the base plate was probably leather armor. Although this design was suspected of saving trouble, the Mingguang Armor of the Sui and Tang dynasties changed the bad habit of cutting corners in previous dynasties and incorporated arm guards and extended leg guards into the basic elements of armor style, which had an important impact on later generations.

In the late Tang Dynasty, the light armor declined, and the integrated body armor was replaced by the zither armor. After the wars of the Five Dynasties, a mature system was formed again in the Song Dynasty. The armor of the Song Dynasty was usually divided into three parts: arm guards and body armor. The body armor was in the shape of a mountain, combining body armor and leg guards, and tied tightly on the shoulders, back and waist. The armor was divided into iron, skin, paper, etc. according to the material.

The invention of paper armor originated from the late Tang Dynasty, and became one of the standard armor styles of the army in the Song and Ming dynasties. There was a record of customizing 30,000 sets. It is probably the earliest Kevlar armor in the world. It is inferred from the use of thick wrinkled paper that structural mechanics should also be used to enhance protection. Judging from the records used in the south, paper armor seems to have certain moisture-proof ability. And the excellent ones are also as strong as "the strong arrow cannot hole" while being light.

No wonder there are records of local officials applying to exchange 100 sets of iron armor for 50 sets of high-quality paper armor. History began to turn around in the 14th century, when big white armor weighing up to 30 kilograms in Europe gradually emerged. In China, after the Ming Dynasty pushed the weight of iron armor to a historical high of 28.5 kilograms, it was the transition to light due to the development of firearms. The direction of armor moving towards solidity should have been outdated, even the big white made of Damascus steel

Armor will also be easily penetrated by steel arrows shot from crossbows with a pull of more than 40 kilograms. China's armor development is more realistic than Europe due to the people's war. The extraordinary protection of cold weapons is often only used to only use a few sets of armor to deal with it. This pragmatic spirit will resolutely withdraw from the stage of history in the era of firearms. The Ming Dynasty was an era of alternating positions of light and heavy armor, while the Qing Dynasty was an era of promoting light and armor.

The chain mail that was introduced from the Western Regions to prevent distant arrows began in the Ming Dynasty, which was wet and could control distant guns. They all became the main armor at this time. The high tassels and pointed helmets on the head, wide cotton armor with iron nails on the jacket, and the Eight Banners Iron Cavalry with a net armor connected with iron rings inside are symbols of the Qing dynasty martial arts. The decline of armor is inevitable. Under the exclusion of guns and cannons, when even light armor becomes a burden, the new military uniform does not look so weak.

The purpose of the shield is to consume or guide the lethality, as well as to serve as an assist weapon. Due to weight issues, shields in all dynasties were mainly vine, wood or leather shield. Since the surface of the wood and leather shields needed to be painted to prevent moisture and corrosion, the exquisite shield pattern was produced. Before the Western Han Dynasty, the style of the shield was close to rectangular and divided into step and vehicle use. The long step shield is conducive to preventing arrows and maintaining arrays, and the short and narrow vehicle shield is conducive to using the vehicle. The biggest threat to protection is the thorns. The force of the thorns is enough to gather up to hundreds of kilograms of pressure at the attack point, which is beyond the reach of sword chopping. Therefore, in the Warring States Period, double arc square shields used for close combat became popular, and the shape of the bulge of the longitudinal center line was conducive to decomposing the thorns.

With the rise of cavalry, oval shields appeared in the Western Han Dynasty, and cavalry could hold them with one hand to resist attacks. After being abandoned by the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties and picked up by the Song Dynasty, this style became a circular side sign tied to the left forearm of the cavalry to defend against arrows. At the same time, after the development of the Han and Wei Dynasties, a very long hexagonal shield began to prevail in the Eastern Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties. This was an improved version of the double arc square shield. The entire shield surface bent longitudinally inwardly, like a leaf.

During combat, you can not only hold it in your hand, but also insert the sharp corners at the bottom on the ground and support it with a stick. This style becomes a side card of infantry in the Song Dynasty. When the shield was introduced in the Song Dynasty, it lacked the interest in going downwards. The remaining development was nothing more than a slight change of shape and no longer had the meaning of progress.

Components:

The earliest copper armor appeared in Asia. Copper armor appeared in the Mesopotamia in the Mesopotamia around 2600 BC, China during the Yin and Zhou dynasties, and India during the Vedic era. The earliest large-scale use of iron armor was the Assyrians in the Middle East. During the popularization of armor, there were also supporting armor tools such as neck armor, facial armor, wrist armor, breast armor, gloves, etc. to protect specific parts.

[Face armor]

The front of the helmet is used to prevent cold weapons from attacking the face of soldiers. Face armor was used in ancient and medieval times. The face armor was tightly connected to the helmet, and some were movable. It was made of iron or steel, and was in a tile shape or scale shape. The face armor of the French cylindrical helmet is the extension of the front wall of the helmet, and has 2 eye holes and 1-2 noses and mouth holes. The ancient Russian helmet actually had no face armor, but only a narrow arrow-like metal piece drooped in the center of the face. The ancient Russian soldiers also wore a ball-tip helmet; sometimes this helmet also had a chain armor shoulder pad, which could cover the back of the head, neck, shoulders, and also cover the face.

[Neck armor]

A accessories for protective gear. It was used in ancient and medieval times to protect the hind head, neck, shoulder and shoulder swollen rabbits from cold weapons. In ring armor, the neck armor is locked round and fixed-stubble edge of the military helmet, hanging on both shoulders. In blade armor, the neck armor is made of a cord connecting a whole piece of iron plate or several metal plates. In medieval knight armor, the neck armor is the main component of protective equipment. The neck armor connects the blade armor, the sash and the helmet, and is carefully crafted according to the size and the samurai body shape. It is divided into two parts, the left side is connected by a movable hinge, and the stone surface is connected by a hidden shot.

The popularity of armor in ancient my country evolved with the change of dynasties.

Armor is a general term for protective equipment on the head and torso in the age of cold weapons. It has many names, but it is basically divided into two parts: helmet for the head and armor for the body. Armor can be divided into armor body, skirt, armor sleeve and accessories. In the early days, people used animal skins, cloth covers with padding materials, wood, etc. to fix them on the torso to protect the attack of weapons. With the development of production technology, leather armor, rattan armor, bronze cast armor gradually appeared. Plate armor made of whole metal, metal braided chain mail, etc. The earlier copper armor appeared in Asia. The Mesopotamia Basin around 2600 BC,

In the Yin and Zhou dynasties, copper armor appeared in China and the Vedic era. The earliest iron armor was used in the Assyrians in the Middle East. During the popularization of armor, there were also supporting armors such as neck armor, facial armor, wrist armor, breast armor, gloves, etc. to protect specific parts. The armor of some Asian countries in the feudal era and medieval European armor was highly valued and extremely exquisite, and expensive. Armor made of gold, silver and rare leather appeared. With the widespread use of modern firearms, the protective effect on the battlefield of ancient armor gradually decreased, and was eventually replaced by bulletproof vests and steel helmets made with modern technology.

Let's talk about China's iron armor first

Iron armor appeared around the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Armor was also known as Kai, "Shi Ming-Shi Bing": "Armor is like armor. Armor is a strong and heavy word, or armor of Wei. "Iron armor of each generation is often made according to its material and body, with many shapes. In the Han Dynasty, iron armor was called Xuan armor, which is different from golden armor and bronze armor. The Han Dynasty army Shen Yipeng avoided the equipment of iron armor. The fish scale armor of the tomb of Liu Sheng, the King of Shenshan, the Western Han Dynasty, was weighing about 16 people, weighing 5 kilograms, and a total of 2,859 pieces of iron armor were decorated with power. According to measurements, the iron armor was crafted from blocks of iron into armor, and then annealed and removed from charcoal.

It is tough. The wearer's torso and chips to elbows are surrounded by iron armor, and the bell is shaped like a half-sleeved short jacket. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the two-dang mirrors of the two-dang armor were called the Tak Light Armor. The shape of the two-dang armor is similar to the shape of the two-dang in the clothing. It is made up of a piece of breastplate and a piece of back armor. There are large mirror-like metal rounds on the chest and behind the Mingguang armor. The armor of the Tang Dynasty has a variety of shapes. According to the "Tang Six Dynasties", there are thirteen types: Mingguang armor, scale armor, mountain armor, black hammer armor, white cloth armor, soap silk armor, cloth back armor, infantry armor, leather armor, wooden armor, and lock Yu

Armors and vests are mainly used for infantry and cavalry. After the Song Dynasty, although firearms appeared, armor is still an important protective equipment. The Song Dynasty mirror armor included steel chain mail, black lacquer arch mountain spring armor, Mingguang fine mesh armor, Mingjujia, Mingrenjia, and Forenjia. Saw "Song History - Military Records" records: The total weight of a set of mirror armor in the Song Dynasty was 45 kilograms to 50 kilograms, and there were 25 pieces of armor leaves. The manufacturing time was 120 working days, and the cost was three and a half jin. In the Ming Dynasty, it was aimed at reducing the amount of mirror armor, and each payment was reduced to 40 kilograms to 25 kilograms, mostly iron valve armor and chain mail.

The armor equipped in the early Qing Dynasty inherited the craft tradition of the Ming Dynasty. It also absorbed the advantages of the armor-making craftsmanship of various ethnic groups. The protection ability of iron armor and external decoration have improved. Therefore, the Fu Museum has the imperial armor for Emperor Gaozong of the Qing Dynasty, consisting of eight parts: copper helmet, neck protection, arm protection, battle robe, chest protection, bronze mirror, battle skirt, and battle boots. The armor is lined with steel sheets, Ming Ha sheets, and borders. The candied robe is densely decorated with bronze stars, and the armor of ordinary warriors is made into a vest and horseshoe sleeve robe. The battle robe is embroidered outside, and the steel stars are secretly decorated with steel stars. The new army was trained in the late Qing Dynasty, and the Western military uniform was changed to the iron armor.

Mianjia

Armor made of textiles is mainly used in the Ming, Qing and ancient Persia regions of Shen State. It is made of cotton, linen, weaving and other materials, consisting of armor body, arm sleeve, arm skirt, and other accessories. The surface of the armor may be dyed in color, with large copper and iron armor bubbles. The materials used in cotton armor are light and soft, and the clothes are wide. The battle is more flexible than iron armor. After being wet, it can resist the shooting of primary firearms. In the early 20th century, the Qing Dynasty trained the "New Army" and used modern guns and cannons. The cotton armor was stopped with the use of other armors.

helmet

Chinese helmets. Helmets were called Douli after the Warring States Period and after the Song Dynasty. The earliest helmets in China were created by Zaoyou. People made helmets with animal horns and rattan skins. The earliest bronze helmets unearthed at present are bronze helmets in Shang Dynasty, all of which were cast in whole bronze and decorated with animal patterns. The bronze helmets were also called helmets. In ancient times, protective equipment used to prevent the head was used to prevent the head, its shape was like a hat, which can protect the top, face and neck at the same time. It was popular in the Shang and Zhou dynasties. The bronze helmets in Zhou Dynasty were also whole

The block casting has two sides extending downward to form ear protection, and some of them have a lamb row round bubble nails protruding on the surrounding broadband. The Zhou helmets unearthed are simple in shape. Iron bags appeared in the Warring States Period and were made of iron armor sheets layer by layer. From then on, to the Song Dynasty, helmets were generally made of whole castings, iron armor sheets, or a combination of the two. ‘The helmets of the Ming Dynasty generally inherited the Song system and were improved. The lock helmets of the imperial guards of the Ming Dynasty were used as locks, iron bowls were like a bear cap, and locks were installed with wire mesh on the lower edge.

The mesh is about eight inches high, and the mesh is about one foot long, and the mesh ring is extremely fine. The soldier's iron helmet is simple and has few decorations. The iron bowl is tall and the shoulders are wide. The entire helmet is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, shaped like a spire. The iron helmets used by officers are carved with dragon and tiger patterns, some are inlaid with gold and silver, and there are rewards on the helmets, and can be inserted into racquet tassels. When the firearms were widely used, the shape of the iron helmet tended to be lightweight. After the middle of the Qing Dynasty, armor became a guard of ceremonies, and decorations were used for review, which were more common in actual combat.

Few applications. In the late Qing Dynasty, Western-style steel helmets were inherited from China and became a common protective equipment for infantry. Leathers were woven and wool. The armor was painted, and the leather was mainly rhinoceros skin, curse skin, turtle and fish skin, buffalo skin, etc. Almost every warrior was equipped with armor, and some horses also wore armor. At the juncture of the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, after the appearance of iron weapons, leather could not resist the attacks of sharp weapons and gradually gave way to iron armor, but leather was still used as a light protective equipment for thousands of years.

Armor

A kind of protective armor that protects the chops is like a shirt. The secret is to sew some belts or thin metal sheets onto leather jackets. Sometimes the armor is covered with velvet and decorated with pressed patterns and engraved patterns.

Chain armor

Protective equipment for protecting the body during combat in ancient times was generally made of small pieces of iron forged, and then connected with small pieces of iron with iron chains. They were tightly buckled and bonded to form a garment shape, which was soft and light to wear. It was popular in the Tang Dynasty of China.

Leaf Armor

A protective equipment to prevent the killing of cold weapons and firearms. Originally, it was made of solid linen or leather jackets. As the metal was released, it was equipped with copper sheets, copper sheets, iron sheets and steel sheets. In ancient Eastern ethnic groups, there were already blade armor, and gold metal blade armor was born there and later was widely used by the Romans. Blade armor was divided into leaf armor and fish scale armor. After the widespread use of firearms (from the 14th century), blade armor became thick metal local armor that protected the trunk and limbs, respectively.

Face armor

The front of the helmet is used to prevent cold weapons from attacking the face of soldiers. Face armor was used in ancient and medieval times. The face armor was tightly connected to the helmet, and some were movable. Made of iron or steel, it was a whole tiled or scaled shape. The face armor of the French cylindrical helmet is the extension of the front wall of the helmet, and has 2 eye holes and 1-2 noses and mouth holes. The ancient Russian helmet actually had no face armor, but only a narrow metal piece of arrow-like drooping in the center of the face. The ancient Russian soldiers also wore a ball-tip helmet; sometimes this helmet also has a chain armor shoulder pad, which can be placed down to cover the back of the head, neck, shoulders, and also cover the face...

Neck armor

A accessories for protective gear. It was used in ancient and medieval times to protect the hind head, neck, shoulder and shoulder swollen rabbits from cold weapons. In ring armor, the neck armor is locked round and fixed-stubble edge of the military helmet, hanging on both shoulders. In blade armor, the neck armor is made of a cord connecting a whole piece of iron plate or several metal plates. In medieval knight armor, the neck armor is the main component of protective equipment. The neck armor connects the blade armor, the sash and the helmet, and is carefully crafted according to the size and the samurai body shape. It is divided into two parts, the left side is connected by a movable hinge, and the stone surface is connected by a hidden shot.

Breastplate
Chapter completed!