Suit of armor

During the 250 years of relative peace and stability in Japan’s Edo period, members of the ruling warrior class were reluctant to set down their arms and armor, both for fear of renewed warfare and to retain the status these objects conveyed in a rigidly stratified society. Battle regalia, like this full set, allowed lords and their attendants to practice their readiness for combat while performing their high rank during ceremonies and festivities. The symbolic importance of suits of armor is evident in the fine workmanship and luxury materials of this set, including overlapping bronze disks, silver lacquer crests, and gold-woven silk. A battle-ready suit, in contrast, would have included metals chains and protective rods.