Menpo 面具
Back Up Next

Home
For Sale
Menpo 面具
Jingasa
Kabuto 01 兜
Archive
Kyudo Book
Manga: Lone Wolf

Next to the Kabuto one of the most expressive parts of the Samurai's Armor is the Face Mask.
This "armor for the face" is known by many names: "mengu" "menpo" "mempo" "men yoroi" "katchu men". Menpo meaning "face and cheek" and is generally used for masks with nose pieces.
A general classification can be made:

"Happuri" A whole face mask with center opening for the nose eyes and mouth, maybe only "legend"

"Hoate" The mask protects only the cheeks.

"Somen" (Entire Face) A mask covering the entire face.

"Me no shita men",  generally known as "Menpo" or "Mempo" A half mask covering the face below the eyes including the nose.

Subtypes

bullet

"Nara Men" with wrinkle's on the broad nose, generally mass produced in the Nara area

bullet

"Ressei Men" "furious power": a half mask with wrinkles, teeth and usually whiskers, savage violent expression.

bullet

"Ryubu-bo" "distinguished", "generous and relaxed". A half mask with some wrinkles (sometimes smooth) no whiskers and a noble expression.

bullet

"Uba ho" "aged woman" toothless, a small mouth no wrinkles.

bullet

"Bijo" "beautiful woman" toothless, smooth face, large mouth.

bullet

"Emi-bo"

bullet

"Shiwa-bo"

bullet

"Oie-bo"

bullet

"Tengu-bo" Mask like the face of a mythical bird.

bullet

"Okina bo" with very long beard or whiskers

bullet

"Neri ho" Mask made of leather.

bullet

"Genjoraku" A Bugaku / Gigaku dance related mask.

bullet

"Okina ho" resembles an aged man : Okina mask of Noh theatre's origin.

bullet

"Karura" A mythical bird like mask.

bullet

"Kotakuraka-men" The nose looks like a crow's beak "karasu", with downward sloping nose.

"Hanbo" "Hambo" Half mask, covering the chin, jaw and sometimes cheeks.

Subtypes

bullet

"Etchu bo" or "Eccyu bo" Plain rounded shape covering mainly the chin.

bullet

"Tsubame bo" or "Tsubakuro-Bo" "Embigata" "Yembi gata" "Swallow cheek" covers the chin and onto the cheeks, resembles a swallow tail.

bullet

"Saru-bo" "Monkey cheek" covers chin, cheeks and frames the mouth

"Nodowa" "Nodawa" A separate throat protection, an iron neck ring in U-form

Some details

"orikugi" "ogarami"(meaning cord twining) "o tasuke no kugi" otayori no kugi" "odome" pegs, hooks or rings on the cheeks and / or studs on the chin to fasten the helmet cord
"ase nagashi no ana" hole to drain perspiration
"tsuyo otoshi no kubo" "dew dropping tube" external tube attached to the sweat running hole to drain perspiration
Whiskers and imperials
"Haguma" polar bear
"Shaguma" brown bear
"nuri saba" russet iron lacquer
"yadome" standing flanges to protect the chin cord
"yodare kake" or "suga" throat protector (guard) of scale plates or mail
"hon kozane" true scales
"kiritsuke kozane" false scales
"shineri kayeshi" standing edge

Any comments or additions are welcome
 

02 Karasu Tengu Menpo

20 Gold Lacquered Menpo

 

11 Black Lacquered

18 Menpo with a cut Yodarekake

Red Lacquered Menpo

12 Giant Red

  

06 Red lacquered Menpo

07 Red lacquered Menpo

Nara Menpo

03 Nara Russet Lacquered Menpo

01 Nara Brown lacquered Menpo

05 Nara Russet Lacquered Menpo

08 Nara Russet Lacquered Menpo

19 Menpo with Moustache and imperial

21 Black menpo with Matching Kabuto

24 Nara Menpo

M02 Nara Menpo with large bristles

04 Nara Black Lacquered Menpo

 

 
    

Hanbo

13 Brown Hanbo

14 Black Hanbo

22 Hanbo with matching Momonari kabuto

23 Hanbo with matching Zunari kabuto

Russet iron

15 Russet iron with Moustache

16 Iron small Menpo

17 Iron Menpo Nose Missing

  

09 Russet Iron Menpo

10 Russet Iron Menpo with Yadome

Nodowa  喉輪

Late Edo period Nodowa

Early Edo period Nodowa

    


  © 2008 Arts of the Samurai
Last modified: 08/01/08