Display of Barding Styles Part 4 - Japanese Barding

Author on her horse Rex
in complete Japanese garb

The Japanese style horse harness, or "bagu" in Japanese, in the display is typical of what artwork from the period depicts samurai using on their horses. The samurai were known as warriors of the horse and bow long before they became legendary for their skill with the sword. The barding projects here are based on what is documented in various woodblock prints from the feudal period of Japanese history. The barding was constructed of strips of cloth, paper and string. The original would have been made from silken cloth and cording (likely kumihimo). 

The Miniature:

In order to replicate the  examples, I used fringe material. The bridle is of silken thread as well. The horse used for the model is similar to those seen in most woodprints of the time. I wanted to maintain the flavor and style for the piece, as well as show the difference from the European styles. A major difference in style is that heraldic display was not as important with Japanese style of barding as we see in European examples.  Nonetheless, the Japanese style is just as flamboyant and flashy! Bay or brown horses were the most common. 

Miniature piece

The picture on the right, shows a type of Japanese bridle and barding in use on my warhorse, Rocky at Melee Madness for the 2008 Æthelmearc Equestrian Championships. While not completely accurate, it was my first attempt at Japanese horse harness. 

In 2014, I made a more accurate reproduction of Japanese bagu to use as part of my Elevation to the Order of the Pelican ceremony. Because my service was largely to the equestrian community, and they also wanted to honor that service, the equestrians of the Kingdom participated in my procession and ceremony. I decided to make barding that actually matched my primary persona, so I made this set of bagu. It was made by tying and knotting cord in a flower design similar to what is seen in Japanese art. The Japanese have a long tradition of knotting and it appears that period pieces were made in this manner. (This bagu is shown in the picture at the top, and inspiration is derived from the source below.)



Japanese "bagu"from the medieval period
which was gifted to the English crown,
now on display at Leeds Museum.

Sources:

Kenrick, Vivienne.  Horses in Japan. London: J.A. Allen & Co., 1964.
Sharpe,  Michael. Samurai Leaders From the Tenth to the Nineteenth Century. NY: Compendium Pub. Ltd, 2008.
Turnbull,  Stephen. Samurai, The World of the Warrior. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd, 2003.