JAPANESE<br/>
<em>A suit of armour with horse saddle, stirrups and trappings</em> 1665 (detail)<br />

metal, wood, pigments, lacquer, gold paint, silk, cotton, leather, gilt<br />
(1) 28.2 x 41.0 x 39.0 cm (saddle) (2-3) 25.6 x 12.5 x 29.0 cm (each) (stirrups) (4) 22.0 x 43.5 x 41.7 cm (Kabuto, helmet) (5) 25.5 x 20.0 x 12.0 cm (Mempo, face guard) (6) 45.5 x 38.5 x 26.0 cm (Do, body armour) (7) 71.5 cm (centre back) 45.0 cm (sleeve length) (jacket) (8) 94.0 cm (centre back) 32.0 cm (waist, flat) (Hakama, trousers) (9-10) 62.5 cm (sleeve length) (each) 46.0 cm (width, flat) (each) (Kote, arm guards) (11-12) 31.5 cm (height) (each) 37.5 cm (circumference) (each) (Suneata, calf guard) (13) 53.0 x 69.7 cm (saddle cloth) (14) 22.5 x 70.5 cm (saddle cloth) (15-16) 35.5 x 68.5 x 2.3 cm (each) (Kusazuri, skirted parts) (17-18) 29.0 x 26.5 x 5.5 cm (each) (Sode, shoulder guards) (19) 56.7 x 155.0 cm (Haidate, thigh guards) (20) 35.5 x 39.3 x 4.5 cm (saddle pad) (21-22) 99.3 x 7.0 cm (each) (saddle pads) (23-24) 28.0 x 38.0 x 2.5 cm (each) (saddle pads) (25) (66.0 x 40.0 x 11.0 cm) (horse straps) (26) 220.0 x 12.5 x 25.5 cm (horse straps) (27) 245.0 x 19.0 cm (horse fitting) (28) 268.0 x 6.0 cm (horse fitting) (29) 208.0 x 3.0 cm (horse fitting) (30) 150.4 x 9.4 cm (horse fitting) (31) 225.0 x 16.0 cm (horse fitting) (32) 266.0 x 12.8 cm (horse fitting)<br />
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne<br />
Acquired, 1889<br />
460.1-32-D2<br />

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Bushido

Way of the Samurai

Free entry

NGV International

Level 1

4 Jul 14 – 4 Nov 14

Bushido: Way of the Samurai explores the fascinating world of the samurai who were the warriors, rulers and aristocratic elite of Japanese society for more than 800 years.

From the 12th century through to the end of the Edo period in 1868 the Shogun, regional lords and their warrior retainers (all samurai in their own right) ruled the country and lived to a strict code of ethics. This military aristocracy aspired to a life of spiritual harmony that not only perfected the art of war but also embodied an appreciation of the fine arts that established their life as an art form itself. Throughout these tumultuous times of war and peace samurai virtues of honesty, courage, benevolence, respect, self-sacrifice, self-control, duty, and loyalty combined with their passion for a cultural lifestyle not only established social stability, but also cultivated a legacy of art and culture in Japanese society that continues to this day.

Bushido: Way of the Samurai will focus on samurai as both warriors and men of refined culture. It will showcase the attire of the samurai in the form of armour, helmets, swords and equestrian equipment. It will display the cultural pursuits of samurai in the form of Noh costumes, calligraphic scrolls, lacquer objects and tea utensils and re-live the legacy of bushido through representations of samurai in large screen paintings, dramatic woodblock prints and noble studio photographs.

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JAPANESE
A suit of armour with horse saddle, stirrups and trappings 1665
metal, wood, pigments, lacquer, gold paint, silk, cotton, leather, gilt
(1) 28.2 x 41.0 x 39.0 cm (saddle) (2-3) 25.6 x 12.5 x 29.0 cm (each) (stirrups) (4) 22.0 x 43.5 x 41.7 cm (Kabuto, helmet) (5) 25.5 x 20.0 x 12.0 cm (Mempo, face guard) (6) 45.5 x 38.5 x 26.0 cm (Do, body armour) (7) 71.5 cm (centre back) 45.0 cm (sleeve length) (jacket) (8) 94.0 cm (centre back) 32.0 cm (waist, flat) (Hakama, trousers) (9-10) 62.5 cm (sleeve length) (each) 46.0 cm (width, flat) (each) (Kote, arm guards) (11-12) 31.5 cm (height) (each) 37.5 cm (circumference) (each) (Suneata, calf guard) (13) 53.0 x 69.7 cm (saddle cloth) (14) 22.5 x 70.5 cm (saddle cloth) (15-16) 35.5 x 68.5 x 2.3 cm (each) (Kusazuri, skirted parts) (17-18) 29.0 x 26.5 x 5.5 cm (each) (Sode, shoulder guards) (19) 56.7 x 155.0 cm (Haidate, thigh guards) (20) 35.5 x 39.3 x 4.5 cm (saddle pad) (21-22) 99.3 x 7.0 cm (each) (saddle pads) (23-24) 28.0 x 38.0 x 2.5 cm (each) (saddle pads) (25) (66.0 x 40.0 x 11.0 cm) (horse straps) (26) 220.0 x 12.5 x 25.5 cm (horse straps) (27) 245.0 x 19.0 cm (horse fitting) (28) 268.0 x 6.0 cm (horse fitting) (29) 208.0 x 3.0 cm (horse fitting) (30) 150.4 x 9.4 cm (horse fitting) (31) 225.0 x 16.0 cm (horse fitting) (32) 266.0 x 12.8 cm (horse fitting)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Acquired, 1889
460.1-32-D2
JAPANESE
Armour (18th century)
(Yoroi 鎧)
lacquer on metal (maki-e), wood, pigment, silk, cotton, leather, metal (thread)
(a-k) 136.0 x 56.0 x 45.0 cm (overall) (installation)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Mrs Henry Darlot, 1888
2066.a-k-D1A
JAPANESE
Saddle and stirrups with dragon and lightning design Edo period (1600-1615)-1868
lacquer on wood, gold, silver, pigment, cotton cord
(a) 27.5 x 42.3 x 38.4 cm (saddle) (b) 25.3 x 29.4 x 12.0 cm (stirrup) (c) 25.3 x 29.4 x 12.0 cm (stirrup)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1888
2025M.a-c-D1A
Utagawa YOSHITSUYA
The death of Kusunoki Masatsura 1862
(Kusunoki Masatsura uchijini no zu 楠正行討死之図)
colour woodblock (triptych)
(a-c) 35.9 x 74.0 cm (image) (overall) (a-c) 36.4 x 74.0 cm (sheet) (overall)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1993
AS9.a-c-1993
Felice BEATO (attributed to)
No title (Samurai warrior) (1860s-1870s)
albumen silver photograph, colour dyes
24.2 x 19.6 cm (image and sheet)
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Presented through the NGV Foundation by Thomas Dixon, Member, 2001
2001.193