QUOTE
The belly wrapper
Of interest was the item known as baodu (抱肚, belly wrapper) strapped across the middle section of the body. Although this element of the armour was invented as far back as the age of Sui and Tang dynasty, it was during the Song (known as paodu (袍肚) at the time) that it was used extensively. Although the Tang dynasty version only hangs downwards from the waist, by the Song dynasty, it started to extend upwards as well. The baodu can serve a number of functions. Initially, it was laced with lamellas and would hang downwards forming the tuiqun. However, soon the tuiqun was made attached to the shinjia directly and this function went into decline although some jiangs still preferred the previous design as it gave more movement around the waist area. I believe that the primary function of the baodu however was not as protection of any form. Rather, it was to serve as a pretection to belt as well as any straps that were hanging weapons and other equipments. These straps and belts often rub against the metal lamellas and thus wearing them out quickly. The baodu prevented this by letting them rub against something soft.
The baodu also acted as a great form of decoration for armour which was designed for function and not beauty. Although only a piece of cloth, patterns as wells as images of animals were sewed on, adding colour and elegance to it. Different designs also emerged in the Tang dynasty. Some would wrap around the entire waist of the wearer while others were two separate pieces hanging from the sides.
Even as just a piece of cloth, the baodu allows for a great level of details of the armour to be concealed. Some of the armour during Song dynasty had their shinjia and tuiqun to be in two separate pieces for the increase in level of movements at the hip and leg areas for the wearer. However, this also meant that during melee combat it was possible for the opponent to attack specifically those areas which can either cut directly into the flesh or simply to separate the two pieces in which to open up a gap in the armour for the next attack. By hiding these areas, the opponent would not know where to place the cut and thereby rendering any attempts to perform such feat to be based on estimations and guesswork, greatly reducing the threat this weakness of the armour design posed. In addition, it was considered an important decoration of the armour in which was the preferred gifts the Emperor would give to his subjects.
Of interest was the item known as baodu (抱肚, belly wrapper) strapped across the middle section of the body. Although this element of the armour was invented as far back as the age of Sui and Tang dynasty, it was during the Song (known as paodu (袍肚) at the time) that it was used extensively. Although the Tang dynasty version only hangs downwards from the waist, by the Song dynasty, it started to extend upwards as well. The baodu can serve a number of functions. Initially, it was laced with lamellas and would hang downwards forming the tuiqun. However, soon the tuiqun was made attached to the shinjia directly and this function went into decline although some jiangs still preferred the previous design as it gave more movement around the waist area. I believe that the primary function of the baodu however was not as protection of any form. Rather, it was to serve as a pretection to belt as well as any straps that were hanging weapons and other equipments. These straps and belts often rub against the metal lamellas and thus wearing them out quickly. The baodu prevented this by letting them rub against something soft.
The baodu also acted as a great form of decoration for armour which was designed for function and not beauty. Although only a piece of cloth, patterns as wells as images of animals were sewed on, adding colour and elegance to it. Different designs also emerged in the Tang dynasty. Some would wrap around the entire waist of the wearer while others were two separate pieces hanging from the sides.
Even as just a piece of cloth, the baodu allows for a great level of details of the armour to be concealed. Some of the armour during Song dynasty had their shinjia and tuiqun to be in two separate pieces for the increase in level of movements at the hip and leg areas for the wearer. However, this also meant that during melee combat it was possible for the opponent to attack specifically those areas which can either cut directly into the flesh or simply to separate the two pieces in which to open up a gap in the armour for the next attack. By hiding these areas, the opponent would not know where to place the cut and thereby rendering any attempts to perform such feat to be based on estimations and guesswork, greatly reducing the threat this weakness of the armour design posed. In addition, it was considered an important decoration of the armour in which was the preferred gifts the Emperor would give to his subjects.
