Horse armor

Warhorse Armor

As early as the Yin and Zhou Dynasties, chariot fighting was the main combat mode, and horse armor was mainly used to protect the steeds driving. After the Qin and Han Dynasties, cavalry became an important unit in the army, and horse armor was used to protect the cavalry. The armors of these two periods are different in materials, manufacturing technology and shape. The armor used to protect the iron horse in the Yin and Zhou Dynasties was mainly leather, painted on the surface and painted with exquisite patterns. The whole armor was divided into two parts to protect the horse's head and trunk.

The origin of Ma Kai

comes from History of the Old Five Dynasties Hanshu Gaozu Ji, "Mingzong and Liang people were in opposition to Desheng, when Jin Gaozu was owned by Liang people? Attack, the vest is broken, the emperor stops riding to give it, and the one who takes the broken leather crosses it. " The fifth and fifth chapters of the Water Margin: "Hu Yanzhuo received the imperial edict and took people to the Jiazhan Library to close the branch. Hu Yanzhuo selected 3, pairs of armored armor and 5, pairs of mature leather waistcoats and horse armor."

Introduction of Ma Armor

Clothing

Ma Armor, also called corset or iron garment, is a kind of underwear that can shape a special figure when worn, and can be used for aesthetic or corrective purposes. ? In addition, sleeveless jackets that are not tight are also called vests or vests. Special fittings used to protect war horses in ancient China. Also known as horse armor. It can be divided into two categories, one is used to protect the iron horse of the chariot, and the other is used to protect the horse of the cavalry.

in the Shang and Zhou dynasties, chariots were the main equipment of the army, and vests were used to protect the driving horses. Mainly leather, painted on the surface, and often painted with exquisite patterns. Divided into two parts to protect the horse's head and trunk.

Pattern

Since Qin and Han Dynasties, cavalry has become an important arm of the army. The vest is used to protect the cavalry. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, vests were used for partial protection, such as the leather that protects the horse's chest.

Armed services

During the Three Kingdoms period, full armor has been recorded in the literature. From the Sixteen Countries of the Eastern Jin Dynasty to the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the role of cavalry was greatly improved, and a heavy armored cavalry with armor was formed, and the structure of horse armor was becoming more and more complete, and it was called armored or saddled from now on.

Armor is made of iron and leather, and generally consists of six parts: a face curtain to protect the horse's head, a chicken neck to protect the horse's neck, a chest to protect the horse's chest, a waistcoat to protect the trunk, a butt to protect the horse's hip, and a parasite to stand on the tail, so as to remove the ears, eyes, mouth and parasitism of the horse.

after the sui dynasty, the number of heavily armored cavalry decreased day by day, but the horse armor was still a kind of protective equipment used in the army. In the war between Song, Liao and Jin, all warring parties used cavalry equipped with horse armor. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, cavalry horses generally no longer wore such heavy vests.

Warhorses often require the same or even higher protection as their masters, and the knight's skills are all on the horse. It is a hard job to make a horse armor for the mount. Steel armor is used in the chest and neck, lock armor is used in the back crotch and other places, and various ornaments are added. However, the mount is still the easiest target for the opposing archer. The sharp arrow of the longbow or crossbow may not directly penetrate the knight's heavy armor, but it is more than enough to shoot the mount.

What's more, the two-handed axe thrown by Teutonic samurai can knock the knight off the horse or break the neck of the mount directly. In ancient wars, the war horse was once a very important new force on the battlefield, so protecting the safety of the war horse is also a main content of protection. The special armor used to protect war horses in ancient China was called "vest" or "horse armor".

Weaknesses of armor

Although armor is an important protective equipment, it also has its weaknesses. From leather armor to iron armor, with the strengthening of armor protection, its weight has also increased greatly. In the Song Dynasty, the armored collar weighed about 5 Jin, and in the Ming Dynasty, the armored collar and helmet weighed 57 Jin. Together with weapons and other equipment, a soldier weighed about 88.5 Jin. Wearing such heavy armor is very inconvenient for marching and fighting.

the northern song dynasty was the peak period of ancient Chinese armor manufacturing, and it was also the starting point of its decline. the main factor leading to its decline and even abandonment was the invention and use of gunpowder. Of course, in the early days of the invention of gunpowder, its power was still very limited, and the armor still had certain protective ability. With the development of social productive forces, the increasingly prominent power of gunpowder forced armor to withdraw from the historical stage.

Warhorse Armor

Recently, the Qing Dynasty Warhorse Armor made of elephant skin was found in the hometown of Ebian Yi Autonomous County, Sichuan Province. The thickest elephant skin is 14 mm. It is the first discovery in China.