katchu horse bamen

[Luc T]

I saw these horse muzzles in the Yushukan shrine.  Does anyone have more information about this?

[Laurent in France]

Luc, Interesting  horse muzzles  also called Kuchikago.. 

Difficult with the photos Is it monkeys in the left? If yes the monkey are often present,depicted because they are supposed to protect horse against desease.. 

In the 2nd kuchikago  the upper zigzag part is a protection, shinto dedication.. 

.. 

I saw only few from Kaga, or with crests or signed Myochin..edo.. 

. 

(Also 2 show p10  in "the arms and armour" book from I. Bottomley and A P  Hopson.. )

. 

Do you have more details, mei ? 

Interesting post 🆙

 

Laurent

[Laurent in France]

 In the Stibbert Museum.. 

[uwe]

Discussed rarely or not at all so far....

I know nothing about the subject, so thanks for bringing it up!

[Luc T]

I have no other picture, I wonder when they were used.  Only for battle?

[Justin Grant]

Luc,

 

Most are used to limit, but not eliminate, grazing. A horse that eats to much, besides being fat and sluggish, can founder, a condition that can lead to death. So groomsmen apply these devices to slow their intake. Also, horses fight, and bite each other, injuring one another. And my guess is that if you rode to your lord's castle, you don't want you horse eating his prized garden.

[Luc T]

this makes sense Justin.  I see it here with our horses, when they enter a new meadow.  Thanks!   In fact, this was the  answer to my question.

[Dee Arte]

Hi, all! I'm a little late to the party here, but I was hoping to get a bit more information or some titles of publications I can reference! I'm researching an object at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum that we've identified as a Japanese horse muzzle: https://www.gardnermuseum.org/experience/collection/26627. Any help would be amazing, specifically if we can get more information of the two muzzles at the Museo Stibbert.

[Geraint]

Dear Dee.

 

I am sorry that answers have not been forthcoming, perhaps at the least this post will stimulate others who know much more than I but here are a scant few references for you.  In 'A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration and Use of Arms and Armour in All Countries and in All Times', by George Cameron Stone,(Universally known as Stone's glossary for obvious reasons!), one Japanese example is listed under 'muzzle', p460.

In, 'Arms and Armour of the Samurai', Bottomley and Hopson. 1988, two are illustrated on p10 and attributed to the Kyoto Arashiyama Museum, referencing that catalogue they seem to be the only two in the museum.  I understand that the Arashiyama collection was disposed of some years ago.  One other example features in the catalogue of the Dai Token Ichi annual exhibition catalogue for 2006. illustrated on page 125.

On the whole they seem to be rather rare survivors.  I hope this information is of some use to you.

 

To add, I think bamen may mislead your search as this usually refers to face armour for a horse, the equivalent of European chanfron. Laurent suggests Kuchikago, (and quotes the Bottomley and Hopson reference).

 

All the best.

[Shogun8]

Hi Dee,

 

I clicked on the link but it brought me to a different object (a candle holder). 

 

A few years ago, I visited the Ajuda National Palace in Lisbon and was shown by the curatorial staff a few items that had been gifted to Portugal by Japan, including some interesting horse armour (in fact, the horse armour they had was much more important than any of the actual armour!). After taking some pictures, I sent them to the mother branch of the Japanese Armor Society (on whose board I sit), the NKBKHK in Tokyo and we were able to identify the items as being quite rare and important. 

 

Perhaps you could send me your email address in a PM and I may be able to point you in the right direction.

 

 

[Geraint]

Dear John.

 

I think that the idea is that someone has stuffed a glass jar into the iron object to turn it into a candle holder......... No?

 

All the best.

[Shogun8]

7 hours ago, Geraint said:

Dear John.

 

I think that the idea is that someone has stuffed a glass jar into the iron object to turn it into a candle holder......... No?

 

All the best.

Hi Geraint,

 

Of course! Duh - thanks for setting me straight...