waistcoat

As early as the Yin and Zhou Dynasties, chariot warfare was the main mode of combat, and vests were mainly used to protect iron horses. After Qin and Han dynasties, cavalry became an important unit in the army, and vests were used to protect cavalry. The armor of these two periods is different in material, manufacturing technology and shape. The armor used to protect iron horses in the Yin and Zhou Dynasties was mainly leather, with painted surface and exquisite patterns. The whole armor is divided into two parts to protect the horse's head and trunk.

Ma Kai's life experience

From "History of the Old Five Dynasties, Hanshu, History of Emperor Gaozu", "When did Mingzong and Liang people confront Desheng, and when did Jin Gaozu return to Liang people? Attack, the vest is broken, the emperor stops riding and gives it, and the one who breaks the skin crosses it. " The fifth and fifth chapters of Water Margin: "Hu received the imperial edict and took people to the library to close the branch. Hu selected 3,000 pairs of armored armor and 5,000 pairs of mature leather vests. "

Ma Wei introduced

Dress

Vest, also known as corset or iron garment, is a kind of underwear that can shape a special figure when worn and can be used for aesthetic or corrective purposes. ? In addition, sleeveless tops that are not tight are also called vests or vests. Special equipment used to protect war horses in ancient China. Also known as vest. It can be divided into two categories, one is the iron horse used to protect chariots, and the other is the war horse used to protect cavalry.

During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, chariots were the main equipment of the army, and vests were used to protect the horses driving. Mainly leather, with paintings on the surface, often with exquisite patterns. Divided into two parts to protect the horse's head and trunk.

model

Since Qin and Han Dynasties, cavalry has become an important unit in the army. Vests are used to protect cavalry. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, vests were used for local protection, such as protecting the leather of horses' chests.

(armed) services

There are straight A's in the documents of the Three Kingdoms period. From the Sixteen Countries in the Eastern Jin Dynasty to the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the role of cavalry was greatly improved, and heavy armored cavalry with armor was formed, and the structure of vest became more and more complete, so it was called armor or pommel horse from now on.

Armor is made of iron and leather, and generally consists of six parts: a face curtain to protect the horse's head, a chicken neck to protect the horse's neck, a chest to protect the horse's chest, a waistcoat to protect the trunk, a saddle to protect the horse's buttocks and parasites standing on the tail. This can remove the ears, eyes, mouth, nose, limbs and parasites of the horse.

After the Sui Dynasty, the number of heavily armored cavalry decreased day by day, but the vest was still a kind of protective equipment used in the army. In the Song, Liao and Jin Wars, all warring parties used cavalry equipped with vests. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, cavalry horses generally no longer wore such heavy vests.

Warhorses often need the same or even higher protection as their masters, and the skills of knights are all on the horse. It is hard work to make armor for mounts. Steel armor is used for the chest and neck, lock armor is used for the crotch and other places, and various ornaments are added. However, the mount is still the easiest target for the opponent's shooter. The sharp arrow of the longbow or crossbow may not directly penetrate the knight's heavy armor, but it is more than enough to shoot at the mount.

What's more, the two-handed axe thrown by Teutonic samurai can knock the knight off the horse's back or break the neck of the mount directly. In ancient wars, war horses used to be a very important new force on the battlefield, so protecting the safety of war horses is also a main content of protection. In ancient China, the special armor used to protect war horses was called "vest" or "vest".

Weakness of vest

Although armor is an important protective equipment, it also has weaknesses. From leather armor to real armor, with the strengthening of armor protection, its weight has also increased greatly. The armor collar in the Song Dynasty weighed about 50 Jin, and the armor collar helmet in the Ming Dynasty weighed 57 Jin. Together with weapons and other equipment, a soldier weighs about 88.5 Jin. Wearing such heavy armor, it is very inconvenient to March and fight.

The Northern Song Dynasty was the peak of manufacture of weaponry in ancient china and the beginning of its decline. The main factor leading to its decline or even abandonment is the invention and use of gunpowder. Of course, in the early days of the invention of gunpowder, its power was still very limited, and armor still had certain protective ability. With the development of social productive forces, the increasingly prominent power of gunpowder forced armor to withdraw from the historical stage.

Physical war horse armor

Recently, the Qing Dynasty war horse armor made of elephant skin was found in the hometown of Ebian Yi Autonomous County, Sichuan Province. The elephant skin is the thickest 14 mm, which was first discovered in China.