Ancient Chinese Rawhide Armor: [古] 皮甲冑

Art by: San Yang: 

Xiang Yu for Civilization Mobile

One of the most ancient type of Chinese armor found from the early period of Warring States period is the Pijia Zhou 皮甲冑 (lit:  Hide/ Leather Armor Set") which is composed of various hide pieces and lamellae. Though hide armor had existed since this Shang dynasty- from a time when rhinoceros and elephants still roamed in what is today's Central China, in the 4th century BC, rhinoceros armor was still used. 

Material evidence for this particular reconstructed design is based on suits excavated from the Tomb of the Marquise Yi of Zeng (Sui) from the late Spring and Autumn- early Warring States period. The proto- Legalist Guan Zhong had advises the 1st Hegemon Duke Huan of Qi to convert punishments to fines of armor and weapons: 

"Ordain that serious crimes are to be redeemed with a suit of rhinoceros armor and one halberd, and minor crimes with a plaited rawhide/leather shield and one halberd. Misdemeanours are to be punished with [a fine of] a quota of metal [jin fen 金分], and doubtful cases are to be pardoned..." 

— Guan Zhong

Western Han bronze caste of a rhino. (Above) During the Zhou dynasty, the extremely dangerous sport of rhino hunting was practiced by the Zhou nobility.

Music: Woman from the Plains

A context for the efficacy of hide armor is that until the 3rd century most of Chinese arms are still forged out of bronze weapons, thus treated and lacquered hide plates would provide a surprisingly resistant as well as flexible suit against such weapons (even in recent centuries lacquered leather special Yi people's red lacquered hide armor can protect well even against steel weapons) or provides ample protection from bronze tipped arrows. Then silk cords- which even in later millenniums could comfortably resist even steel arrows and steel cold weapons are well protected from potential danger of bronze ji (halberds) / and ge (dagger axes) parting the linkage. 

Art by: 小J名叫姜小江

Composed of a dome- shaped panoply composed of tiers of strapped square shaped lacquered hide lamellae connected by silk cords, it is not difficult to don and also ensured a decent degree of flexibility that it can be worn as an external piece of accessory and worn over robes and other articles of clothing.

Armored guard's heavy armor- black lacquered hide stitched together with red silk. Hide armor during this period varied from ox hide to more expensive hides such as rhino that are almost certainly reserved for the aristocrats. The boots of some aristocrats are fashioned from white deer skin. Material evidence excavated from the Tomb of the Marquise Yi of Zeng (Sui). 

Alternative Bronze Helmet: based on example excavated (left) from kingdom of Yan from Warring States period. Below: elite formations of the Warring States period- especially especially elite designated warrior units such as the Wei Martial Troops- or Wei Wuzu, are often imagined to be well equipped in such armors.

Late Warring States period/ Han era nobleman. The fashion and mores of late Warring States period would persist well onto the following Qin and Han dynasties.

Ceremonial Leather Robe of a Zhou Dynasty Aristocrat: the robe is made of prized leather from white deer- and is worn for ceremonial rituals and court attendance. The hat has special number of gems allotted to designate ranks of nobility: with 9 for Dukes, and descending numbers for lesser members of the peerage. The gems have the colors of red, cyan, green, and white.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUIT

Chinese armors- like many other East Asian cultures had a strong impulse to prefer large extended pauldrons and eschew special upper arm armors- in this case opting to rely on the extended and flexible pauldron- sleeves to protect the upper arm while more dedicated bronze or hide arm guards protect the lower arm. Another distinguishing feature that is typical of Chinese equipment at this time is that there isn't specially designed tassels to hold the side arm from the belt, but rather specially built belt clips that are made on the side of the scabbard so that it can be clipped right into the belt. 

Perhaps the most notable unique quality of these armors is their flared raised neck guards (right)- which provides protection against glancing blows and cuts from polearms such as the Ji (halberd) and ge (dagger axes). Neck guards would continue well into the future centuries even on examples from the Qin armor from the Terracotta Warriors (left) and even the ensuing Han dynasty.

Zoomorphic Motifs: Late Warring States- Han dynasty

Possible Decorative Motifs: Warring States tiger phoenix bird pattern painted on lacquered drum. For most states, the early Warring States period was still one of a noble- led feudal order. 

Helmet variations- Shang and early Zhou (top) to Warring States (mid and below)- with some late Warring States helmets protected by prominent extended cheek pieces. Early and more open faced styled helmets made of hide and lacquered leather often have additional beast like decorative elements attached over the top of the helmet. More elaborate fittings for helmets example here.

Note: This is a 6th-1st century "Kuban" styled Scythian helmet. Despite the mental incongruity of Zhou dynasty and Scythians in classical imagination- there indeed seemed to be some overlap and influence at certain periods. Early Warring States helmets also incorporated these influences in their helmets- these are comparable to simpler Kuban styled helmets shown here (frontal view.)

Reenactor: 老库-奥宗甲胄

The Rong barbarians- the nemesis of Western Zhou and a primary enemy of the Qin state to the west- have extensive Saka- material cultures- including the distinctive conical hats, jewelry and other material remains. Zhou daggers are strongly influenced by these Central Asian designs. This extensive contact still manifested in cultures on the Zhou periphery such as the Dian kingdom well into the early Han dynasty. Additionally heavy Central Asian armors of this age also exhibited raised armored collars as well as shown from the Orlat plaque battle scenes. 

 

 

Saka mounted warrior in heavy armor- Eurasian steppe at this period.

By the late Warring States and early Han dynasties (2nd century BC), Chinese records refer to the Saka as Sai (塞) or Saiwang (Saka kings/lords), documenting their migration and conflict in the Ili River and Tarim Basin regions. Archaeological finds from the Ordos culture (Ordos Plateau, adjacent to the northern Zhou frontier) and the Altai region show that these nomadic styles (specific weapons, horse harness, and "animal style" art) were present in the region between the 8th and 2rd centuries BC. Note: the Tarim Basin eventually became a hotly contested ground between the Han and the Xiongnu- when the Han prevailed in the War of the Heavenly Horses- these western regions- broadly spanning what is today's Xinjiang region came under Han sway. 

Contemporaneous armored Saka warrior, 4th- 3rd BC. Original Artwork

Art by Kaliolla Akhmetzhan.

Warring States period bronze helmet: China.

Late Spring and Autumn era chariots, by this time both the horses and the riders were almost always heavily armored, with thick lacquered hide armors protecting the horse's front and sides heavy armor protecting the riders. 

Art by: Li Wenda

TWILIGHT OF THE ARISTOCRATS- ONSET OF QIN SUPREMACY

End Game | Late Warring States period: Qin and Chu's territories vastly outstrips the rest of the kingdoms. 

Warriors in full suit of hide armor armed with a ge (dagger axe) standing beside a Qin dynasty elite vanguard soldier armed with a pike- lengthed broad spear.

Music: Eternal Beauty

By the time of the late Warring States period- great changes would have taken place that radically transformed equipments of war on a geometrical level. Great states like Qin- would have established great specialized armories and provided armors that allowed its finest soldiers to be covered nearly entirely in armor from head to lower legs- with only their hands, eye slits, and feet exposed. 3rd century BC- would also usher in the proliferation of iron weapon- as well as iron armor in Chinese warfare, further democratizing both killing power as well as protection for the soldiers. 

Xiangyu from the 2012 Film "Last Banquet" - which has him depicted in Pijia Zhou.

Additionally, warfare itself, once the purview led at the head by dedicated chariot borne aristocrats- as were in the days of the Spring and Autumn period- is now largely between giant blocks of disciplined and well equipped infantry and crossbowmen blocks- and with the advent of true cavalry replacing that of even well armored quadriga chariots. Much can be glimpsed in the equipment as well as organization of the vigorous and meritocratic Qin war machine which eventually overawed all of the 6 remaining kingdoms.

When considering how much of a quixotic Romantic who wanted to return the realm back into an age of riven- aristocrat- led kingdoms, is somewhat apt: both in the fact that he was garbed in almost anarchistic armor of the old aristocracy, but also have it externalize his old fashioned Don Quixote like out of touch ideals in a rapidly changing world as if he was a heroic but doomed incongruous relic.

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