Chapter 19 Section 6 Military Uniforms

As wars have continued year after year and struggles for political power have continued one after another, people have paid more attention to weapons and equipment.Coupled with the improvement of ironmaking technology, steel began to be used in weapons, and the armor of this period was also greatly improved.There are three main types of armor: One is the sleeve armor.This is a commonly used armor, which was developed on the basis of the armor of the Eastern Han Dynasty.It is a cylindrical armor body made of small pieces of fish-scale armor or turtle-back armor, connected front and back, and equipped with shoulder sleeves on the shoulders, hence the name tube sleeve armor.People who wear tube sleeve armor usually wear a pocket with ear protectors on their heads and long tassels on their necks.

The second is the crotch armor.This is the common military uniform during the Northern and Southern Dynasties.Its shape is similar to the crotch that was popular at that time.The front and back are two big pieces, the top is connected with leather loops, and the waist is fastened with a belt.The materials used are mostly hard metal and leather.Gold wire is also used for special attention.According to records, the "gold and silver fine armor" worn by Qin King Fu Jian, who was defeated and fled in the Battle of Feishui, was woven by "carving out gold as threads".There are two types of armor plates: strip shape and fish scale shape, and fish scale shape is more common.Those who wear this kind of armor are usually lined with thick crotch shirts, with pockets on their heads and trousers pleated.The Northern Dynasties Yuefu folk song "Qi Yu Ge" described the samurai in this way: "Put the horses in the Daze, the grass is good and the horses are fat. The brand is iron crotch, (钅亲) 链 [humou mutual conspiracy, probably a helmet] 鸐 [di Enemy] Tail."

The third is Mingguang armor.This is an armor with a metal round guard on the chest and back.The round guards are mostly made of metals such as copper and iron, and are polished to a bright shine, just like a mirror.Wearing it to fight in the sun will reflect the dazzling "Mingguang", making the enemy dazzled and dizzy, hence the name "Mingguang Armor". "Book of Zhou Cai You Biography" records the anecdote that Cai You was dressed in bright iron armor, charged into battle, invincible, making the enemy regard him as an "iron beast" and fled in all directions.There are many styles of this armor, ranging from complex to simple.Some only add two round guards on the front and back on the basis of the crotch, while others are equipped with shoulder pads and knee pads, and complex ones are equipped with several shoulder pads.Most of the body armor is long to the hips, and there is a leather belt around the waist.