Ko-Gashira Bajo Jingasa

Description

The Ko-Gashira Jingasa (Lieutenant’s Battle Hat) were round battle hats worn at the end of the Sengoku Jidai to mid Edo Era by mid-level ranked samurai. They were traditionally crafted from wood, leather, nerigawa, then iron and later steel as a defensive helmet. As the crafters began progressively getting better, the Ashigaru grew in popularity on the battlefield and the helmets became more embellished going into the Edo Era. Almost always conical in shape, the Jingasa would deflect the blows of weapons out and away from the ashigaru wearing it.

Jingasa were traditionally lacquered in black and would typically bear the mon of their clans (mark or crest) or that of their unit. This allowed soldiers to be easily identified from a distance. Mons were often painted in gold color and the inside of the Jingasa was typically lined with hemp cloth. They also featured four metal rings riveted inside, and a cord would be tied into these rings and loop down just below the ears, and a second cord would then be passed through the loops and tie below chin securing the jingasa to the head.

Additional information