Journal of East Asian Archaeology

JEAA VOL. 2, NO. 3-4 (2000)


Special Thematic Issue: Clashes of Iron: Armor, Weaponry, and Warfare
in Early East Asian States

• Gina L. BARNES, "Guest Editor's Preface"
• Albert E. DIEN, "A Brief Survey of Defensive Armor across Asia"
• Albert E. DIEN, "Armor in China before the Tang Dynasty"
• Gina L. BARNES, "Archaeological Armor in Korea and Japan: Styles, Technology, and Social Setting," with three appendices:
• Appendix I. FUJIO Shin'ichiro, "The Relationship between Kaya and Silla and Western Japan in Terms of Iron Production from the First Century BC to the Sixth Century AD"
• Appendix II. YOSHIMURA Kazuaki, "Iron Armor and Weapons in Protohistoric Japan"
• Appendix III. SHIN Kyung Cheol, "Relations between Kaya and Wa in the Third to Fourth Centuries AD"
• YANG Hong, "Lamellar Armor and Horse Bardings in Yamato and Koguryo and Their Connections with China"
• KANG Bong Won, "A Test of Increasing Warfare in the Samguk sagi against the Archaeological Remains in Yongnam, South Korea"
• Donald B. WAGNER, "Chinese Monumental Iron Castings"

A BRIEF SURVEY OF DEFENSIVE ARMOR ACROSS ASIA
Abstract:

Scale armor had a long history in the Near East and was almost exclusively the armor of the steppeland nomads. While depictions of Scythians in art seldom show them wearing armor, extensive archaeological finds yield scale armor. The Sarmatians were famed for scale armor which covered their bodies and that of their horses. Scale armor reached its furthest level of development among the Parthian cataphracti. The armor included flexible ring armor for the arms and legs. On the other hand, lamellar armor in the form of a long, caftan-like very supple suit was the dominant type of armor during the Sasanian period and eventually was introduced into Eastern Turkestan and China. The Khalchayan site has depictions of both light and heavy armored figures, but the manner in which the square laminae were joined is not clear. The Kushan rulers of Bactria shown on coins emphasized light cavalry, but later ones are depicted in scale or plate armor with the flexible ring leg and arm armor. As depicted in art, the armor of this area displayed Greco-Roman influences as well as that of the Indians to the south and the nomads to the north.

ARMOR IN CHINA BEFORE THE TANG DYNASTY
Abstract:

The earliest traces of armor in China consist of bronze helmets, since body armor was made of non-durable leather. The earliest surviving body armor is of lacquered leather laminae from the Warring States period (fifth-third centuries BC). Over time, the size of the laminae grew smaller. Metal body armor appears in the Han Dynasty but lacquered leather probably remained in use for some time after that. Heavier armor and barded horses appear after the invention of the stirrup in the fourth century. Scale armor is associated with non-Chinese, and neither plate armor nor chain-mail was utilized in China. During the Tang Dynasty, a type of long rectangular lamellar armor appears to have been introduced from Iran, ending a long autochthonous tradition.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARMOR IN KOREA AND JAPAN: STYLES, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIAL SETTING
Abstract:

Iron armor has long been known from excavations of Kofun-period (AD 300-710) tombs in Japan, but new excavations of iron armor in South Korea from the mid-1980s have thrown up new questions of the relationship between these two areas in iron resources and technology, armor manufacture, military activity, and trade. This article reviews the armor typology in terms of origins and influences, examines technological and social issues in terms of specific site excavations, and it reviews the arguments for trade and exchange between the Yamato and Kaya polities. Environmental data are proposed as contributing to the shifts in manufacturing loci against the background of constant socio-political competition among the surrounding states.

LAMELLAR ARMOR AND HORSE BARDINGS IN YAMATO AND KOGURYO AND THEIR CONNECTIONS WITH CHINA
Abstract:

Influences of Chinese armor manifested themselves twice in the Japanese archipelago, firstly in the fourth century, when the small lamellar plate jackets and helmets of Chinese style were copied, and secondly in the early fifth century, when long lamellar suits of armor were introduced by the Koguryo. This article examines the data, focussing on Koguryo and assessing China's influence on that horse-riding tradition and its successive transmission of horse-rider armor to Yamato in Japan.

A TEST OF INCREASING WARFARE IN THE SAMGUK SAGI AGAINST THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL REMAINS IN YONGNAM, SOUTH KOREA
Abstract:

This paper presents a case study of how a monocausative factor, warfare, played a critical role in the course of the formation of the Silla Kingdom between the first and fifth centuries AD. Extant Korean historical documents are used as the source to acquire a general historical background on the ancient Korean "Three Kingdoms." The archaeological manifestation of warfare is examined. In particular, a great deal of bronze and iron weapons excavated from burials in southeastern Korea were quantified and analyzed in conjunction with data on hostilities mentioned in the historical documents. The results of statistical analysis on weaponry artifacts that probably were used in battles strongly support the premise that warfare was a key factor for the state formation process of the Silla Kingdom. This paper will make a contribution to understanding the importance of the warfare hypothesis for the interpretation of state formation in Korea specifically and in many parts of the world generally.

CHINESE MONUMENTAL IRON CASTINGS
Abstract:

This article reviews the technical aspects of the production of very large iron castings in pre-modern China. Among the matters taken up are: the piece-moulding technique and the amelioration of the flash-lines which are unavoidable when this technique is used with white cast iron; the use of sulphur in producing better detail in the castings, and the effect of sulphur on the sound-quality of cast-iron bells; the use of wrought-iron reinforcement and stage-casting in the enormous Cangzhou Lion; the special problems involved in casting iron artillery; and the riddle of the lack of corrosion on many of the pre-modern monumental iron castings. The corrosion-resistance of the ancient iron castings may be related to their very low silicon content.

All very significant and interesting articles, but unfortunately they cost quite a bit to read and download online: US$20.63 per article, payable by credit card on this site http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/bril...gfwiqyob4.alice

All so wonderful, yet so expensive!

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If anyone actually have a copy, please share

I may be downloading a couple of the articles soon. Will let you guys know.

You should point out that you are a bonafide subscriber to the journal. We wouldn't want to give the impression that you are looking for illegal copies.

I believe I can get electronic copies (pdf) of some of the above mentioned articles, although I would not feel comfortable distributing it to a large number of people. I can, however, perhaps forward it to some other person, who can then share with anyone else who may be interested. I hope this is not illegal... If this is, administrators or supermoderators should feel free to delete this post...