176 Chinese Clay Figures 



are laid around horizontally. In general when the hide has not been 

 properly cured, the cuirass is not strong; l when the hide is worn out, it 

 will wrinkle. The method of inspecting cuirasses is as follows: the 

 stitches, when examined, must be fine and close; the inner side of the 

 hide must be smooth ; the seams are required to be straight ; the cuirass 

 must perfectly fit into the case in which it is to be enclosed. 2 Then it is 

 taken up, 3 and when examined, it must allow of ample space. When it 

 is donned, it must not wrinkle. When the stitches are examined, and 

 found to be fine and close, it is a sign that the hide is strong. When 

 the inner side is examined, and found to be smooth, the material is well 

 prepared and durable. When the seams are examined, and found to be 

 straight, the cutting is perfect. When it is rolled up and placed in its 

 case, it should fold closely. When, however, it is taken out, it should 

 offer ample space to the wearer, and it is then beautiful. 4 When it is 

 donned without wrinkling, it will gradually adjust itself to the form of 

 the trunk." 



We gather from this account that the ancient hide corselets were not 

 downright primitive affairs, but testify to an advanced stage of culture. 

 Armor, as early as that archaic period, was individual, and carefully 

 adapted to the shape of the body. Its weight was equally balanced 

 between the upper and lower portions, the former reaching from the 

 shoulders to the loins, the latter from the loins to the knees. Ap- 

 parently it was but one uniform coat, without sleeves, and without any 

 separate parts for protection, as nape-guards, greaves, knee-covers, or 



1 Biot translates, "En general, si la fagon n'est point parfaite, la cuirasse n'est 

 pas solide." And Couvreur (Dictionnaire chinois-francais, p. 799), "Toute cuirasse 

 d'un travail imparfait n'est pas solide." My rendering is based on the comment of 

 Cheng Ngo. 



2 The cuirass was rolled up and encased in a covering, presumably of hide. This 

 case wasstyled kao (No. 5949), a wordnowused in thesense of "quiver." Hide bags in 

 which to preserve armor are still used in Tibet, and there is one in the Museum's 

 collection. The Chinese now avail themselves of trunks with a special compartment 

 in the lid for the helmet (compare Plate XLIII). 



3 The first test that the cuirass is exposed to refers to its fitting into the case ; the 

 second, to its fitting on the wearer; for this purpose it is taken out of the case. 



4 As will be seen from Biot's comment, the K'ien-lung editors hold that the last 

 two qualities are difficult to reconcile, as, on the one hand, the cuirass must fit like 

 a coat without throwing folds, and, on the other hand, must have ample space and 

 splendor. I do not believe that this objection is very serious. The conditions stipu- 

 lated in the text could all, indeed, be fulfilled. The essential requisite was elasticity 

 to grant full freedom of motion; the cuirass must be tight-fitting, but if the hide is 

 sufficiently elastic, "ample space" is secured to the wearer. Owing to its flexible 

 character it could be readily rolled up, and, when taken out of its case, immediately 

 reverted to its original shape, so that it could be donned without loss of time. The 

 word ming ("brilliant") translated by Biot "alors elle a del'£clat," I believe, means 

 something like "it is then in evidence, it fulfils its purpose." 



