Itomaki-No-Tachi

ITOMAKI-NO-TACHI" ( TACHI WITH LACING ON THE SCABBARD ) CAME INTO BEING DURING THE "NAMBOKUCHO" PERIOD ( 1334 ~ 1392 AD.), THROUGH NECESSITY. THE USE OF ARMOR DURING THIS PERIOD WAS VERY POPULAR. THE "ITOMAKI" WAS DEVELOPED TO PREVENT ABRASION DAMAGE TO THE SAYA , THE UPPER 1/3 WAS WRAPPED ( MAKI ) IN THE SAME MANOR AS THE TSUKA, WITH FINE SILK LACING ( ITO` ). THE LOWER 2/3, WAS OCCASIONALLY PROTECTED BY A "SHIRI-ZAYA" ( PROTECTIVE BOOT ), THESE WERE MOST FREQUENTLY MADE OF "BEAR FUR", RARELY; ELEPHANT HIDE, AND EVEN LEOPARD FUR, ARE seen.

THE "ITOMAKI-NO-TACHI", FULFILLS ITS FORMAL ROLE AS THE SYMBOL OF CHIVALRY,  THE FORMAL "ITOMAKI TACHI" IS THE MOST HIGHLY CHERISHED POSSESSION OF ARISTOCRAT'S, DAIMYO'S, AND ELITE SAMURAI FAMILY'S, AND IS A SYMBOL OF POWER, AND AUTHORITY.  IT IS ALSO AMONG THE FINEST, AND MOST DESIRABLE WORKS OF ART.