Looking at various helmets from different places and eras, many of them covered the cheek or mouth.
Like the 'T' visor of Greeks, or the cheekguards of romans, full 'bucket' helmets of medieval ages. Chain viels in the Middle East and India, masks in Japan.

But the Chinese ones I'm familiar with seem to leave the face fully exposed. The closest I can think of would be Ming/Qing brigandine.


even so it seems pretty exposed. I don't think I've seen a nose guard on Chinese helmets either.

But during Qin/Han up to early ming, did most helmets just leave the face exposed, or is it artistic license? As a fully visible face would be possibly more heroic and identifiable in an art piece than one covered in armor.


*I also recall some Chariot rider helmets which provided greater face coverage, but other than that it seems faces were left unprotected for most of history.

Some helmets in Song/Ming artwork are portayed with the lamellar neckguard extending to project the sides of the face, like this.


I also have a (I think) Ming era painting on my computer which depicts a warrior holding (not wearing) some kind of defensive mask.

I'd love to see that face mask.

and on the neck guard, is it a part of the helmet or the body armor? I'm not sure what you mean. I could see the sides of the helmet, when tied, forming a sort of 'v' shaped to guard the cheeks, but it wouldn't cover any more than the brigandine helmet I posted.

Luckily, the picture has already been uploaded by a member of another forum. The mask is held by the man dressed in white.
http://www.allempires.com/forum/uploads/Ki...01_182945_8.jpg

I noticed it sometime ago. But i am still a bit sceptical because despite the number of statues and paintings that depicts chinese jiangs in armour, this is the only one that has something that resembles a face protection. Considering that he is just holding it rather than wearing it, one might wonder if it is indeed a protection mask or a mask for other purpose.

Conan, do you know what date that painting is?

The mask resembles some Nuo theater masks I've seen in a book before. It was popular during the Tang

I'm no expert, but the painting SEEMS to be Ming period. Another member might be able to shed light on this.

Yes, I can verify, it is Ming.

Great. Is the painting early or late Ming? The armour and weapons would indicate the former.

I don't recall the painting's date. But the temple in which the painting is in was built during the Mid-Ming era.