Horo (母衣) - Samurai Cape
Horo (母衣) - Samurai Cape A detail from " 一の谷合戦図屏風" where Kumagai Naozane is depicted wearing an Horo on horseback. The Horo ( 母衣 ), also written with the characters 袰 , 幌 and 保呂, is a type of Japanese cape associated to the Samurai class. It is quite unique as a form of cape and it was worn by the Japanese mounted warriors on the battlefield of the Heian and Kamakura period. It was a mantle-like gear worn on top of the O'yoroi when on horseback. When riding, it was flapping or if tied to the hips, it blew up like a sail and it is assumed that it was worn for threatening the enemy and to enhance the majestic appearance of a mounted warrior. An horo fixed on the back of the armor, from 軍用記 7巻. [3] You can see how the cords were fixed on top of the shoulder area and on the hips. However, when not being inflated by the wind, the Horo was hanging down in an unsightly manner and so a fr...