The characteristics of the Japanese iron and steel used for the armors from the end of the Muromachi to the Edo period

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26882021
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Cultural assets study and museology
• Research Institution: Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
• Principal Investigator: Shiode Natsuko (釘屋奈都子) 東京藝術大学, 大学院美術研究科, 専門研究員 (30739074)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-08-29 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 文化財 / 鉄鋼 / 鎧 / 和鉄

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The steel ring and sheet used for the Japanese armor have been investigated. The steel wire used for the kusari chain is manufactured by forging or drawing with a die. In case of a die, the ductility of Japanese steel produced by Tatara Japanese smelting technique becomes an essential factor. In this study, the ductility of Japanese steel has been investigated to clarify its characteristics compared with the modern steel product. As for the iron and steel sheet, the parts of armor excavated from the main tenshu building of the Saga castle has provided as valuable specimen. The materials and manufacturing techniques of those sheets have been clarified, and the fundamental data was acquired in order to examine the relationship between the materials, manufacturing technique, and its strength of the iron and steel sheets used for the Japanese armor.

Free Research Field

文化財科学