The Problem of Plate Armor 285 



horseman's suit of armor, as it was in vogue during the K'ien-lung period 

 (1736-1795). It is complete with leggings and helmet. The lower 

 garment is covered by four parallel rows of very thin, light and elastic 

 steel laminae of rectangular shape, 9 cm "long and 1 cm wide, rounded at 

 the upper end, perforated at both apex and base, and sewed on to a 

 foundation of cloth, the lower ends being hidden in a fold, where they 

 are riveted by means of studs with broad, gold-plated heads. They are 

 not mutually joined, but one overlaps another to a slight degree. In 

 the upper garment the steel plates are invisible, being inserted as an 

 interlining (between the lining and the silk on the exterior) , and fastened 

 by means of rivets, so that their gilt heads appearing on the surface 

 indicate the hiding-places of the plates. 1 Dragons, all together six, 

 rising from the sea and standing erect, are embroidered with gold threads 

 on the front and back of the coat, on the two separate shoulder-pieces, 

 and on the two side-pieces underneath the arms. The casque, composed 

 of two steel sheets and surmounted by a black velvet plume, has chased 

 dragons in front, and is provided with silk protectors enveloping occiput, 

 neck, ears, and chin. 



The uniform of an artillery-man (Plate XXXV) consists of a coat, 

 lower garment, and pair of leggings of wadded black satin lined with 

 light-blue silk, and studded with gold-plated, riveted bosses. These 

 bosses, of a merely decorative character, are the survivals of the iron or 

 steel plates which, as in the preceding harness, are wrapped up in the 

 interior of the garment or are fastened to the lining. The plates are 

 retained in this specimen only for the protection of the shoulders, but 

 have a decorative rather than a positive value. They are arranged in 

 rows of three, two rows being in front and two at the back on each 



1 It is singular that the students of plate armor have never turned their atten- 

 tion to China, although it was very clearly described as early as by Gerbillon (in 

 Du Halde, Description of the Empire of China, Vol. II, p. 340, London, 1741): 

 "All the soldiers who were in the camp, headed by their officers, repaired to the 

 place appointed, armed with their casques and cuirasses. The Emperor put on like- 

 wise his cuirass and helmet, being accompanied with his eldest and third sons; but 

 this latter was not armed, being too young to bear the weight of a Tartarian cuirass. 

 This cuirass consists of two pieces; one is a sort of under petticoat which is girt about 

 the body, and reaches below the knee when they are standing, but covers all their 

 limbs when they are on horseback: the other piece is like the coats of armor of the 

 ancients, but the sleeves are longer, reaching to the wrist. The outside of both 

 these pieces is of satin, for the most part purple, embroidered with gold, silver, and 

 silk of various colors. Next to this satin, lined with some pieces of taffety, are ham- 

 mered plates of iron or steel, finely burnished, which are placed like scales on the 

 body of a fish, whence they probably took the notion. Each plate, which is about an 

 inch and half long, and a little more than an inch in breadth, is fastened to the satin 

 by two small nails, the heads, being round and well polished, appearing without. 

 Some few put another piece of taffety within-side, which covers the iron plates. These 

 cuirasses have this conveniency that they do not deprive the body of the liberty of 

 turning and moving easily; but then they are exceeding heavy." 



