Breastplaste Depecting Character Hachiman, God of War

The symbolism conveyed by a representational helmet and face mask could be enhanced by the use of a detachable crest (maidate), usually mounted on the front of the helmet just above the brim. Crests are sometimes made of iron, but more frequently they combine delicate materials such as leather, paper-mâché, or gilt and lacquered wood. Crest designs of the Edo period include a wide range of family heraldry (mon), naturalistic renditions of plants and animals, and sacred imagery. These same decorative themes are also featured on embossed iron breastplates of the period. The relatively broad surface of a breastplate afforded a skilled armorer ample room to display his talents as a metalworker and his inventiveness as an artist.

This breastplate and crest (36.25.228) share a common sacred theme: the invocation of the war god Hachiman through the display of the characters representing his name. Hachiman, one of the principal Shintō deities (kami), was among the first indigenous gods assimilated into the Buddhist pantheon in Japan. By the late eighth century he was officially accorded the Buddhist title Daibosatsu (Great Bodhisattva). He was identified as the deified spirit of the legendary Emperor Ōjin (r. 270–310) and as the particular patron of the Minamoto clan, founders of the first shogunate, both factors that may have contributed to the development of his status as the god of war. Hachiman was considered the protector of the state in times of strife and was revered as a personal protector by individual samurai of all ranks. Temples dedicated to Hachiman were built throughout Japan, where he is worshiped in both Buddhist and Shintō rites.

The delicate lettering that bisects the center of the crest gives the god's honorific title, Hachiman Daibosatsu. The embossing in the center of the breastplate presents the two characters for Hachiman alone, vibrantly simulating in metal the bold and fluid brushstrokes of a master calligrapher. An inscription on the breastplate indicates that these two characters are the work of Myōchin Munesuke, who embossed the plate prepared by his relative, Myōchin Morisuke. These men were members of the famous Myōchin family of armorers, makers of sword fittings, and metalworkers, who proudly traced their skills through generations of master craftsmen active from the twelfth to the eighteenth century.