samuraiThis, my friends (as John McCain is wont to say) is a suit of samurai armor. Nimai-do gosuko armor with tatewaka-pattern lacing, to be more specific. It was made in the 18th Century out of iron, gold, leather, lacquer and silk. The height of the cuirass (that breastplate in the front) is 14 5/8 inches and was lent to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City by the Hagashibara Museum of Art, Okayama Province in Japan for a very special exhibit (on now through January 10th; if you can see this at all, please do), The Art of the Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156-1868.

I saw this suit of armor, as close as my nose could get to the glass case; beautifully kept and preserved, this is a suit of armor that was used.

By a woman.

This armor was owned and used in the 1700s by Yoneko, the first wife of Ikeda Harumasa, the Lord of Okayama. The catalog for the exhibit (from which this picture was taken since we were not allowed to take photos in the exhibit, 2009, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Editor: Monihiro Ogawa) details this suit of armor and mentions, rather off-handedly, “..an outstanding example of armor made for a woman..” As if there are examples of Samurai women’s armor that are not so outstanding.

I don’t remember any women among “The Seven Samurai”, do you? But it is true – the wives of Samurai were also Samurai and came from Samurai families. They were trained to fight to the death to protect their homes and families while their husbands were fighting for their lords. Supposedly their favorite WMD was a long-handled spear. Considering the amazing quality of the blades on display in this exhibit, (and the breadth and depth of the varieties, lengths, and uses of the blades would make your head swim; I gave up once I’d gone through the various swords and daggers) a trained woman with a long-handled spear was probably quite deadly.

Given that the length of MY cuirass (ahem) is 18-20 inches (whether you go from the base of my neck to my waist or longer), we’re talking about someone who was 5’ tall…or less. But a fighter nonetheless.

Caterina Sforza, Countess of Forli, 15th Century Italy. When Cesare Borgia captured her children while she was holed up in one of the family’s castles (he was trying to grab onto her possessions) and had brought them in front of the castle and threatened to kill them before her eyes, is reported to have pulled her skirts up (much to the embarrassment of everyone), exposed herself to Borgia and yelled down, “I’m not frightened of you – see, I can have more!” Even Borgia was moved at her crazy bravery. She won that battle (but Borgia eventually won the war).

We have a lot of fighting women here at Firedoglake. We don’t have castles or swords; we don’t have armies of soldiers at the battlements attacking. But the fights are just as deadly and courage is still important.

There are a lot of people in this country who forget that women are fighting, dying and being injured and maimed overseas (and not getting the support and services they need when they come home). A lot of people like to think that women are all safe and sound and in the kitchen. But, that is obviously a relatively new and western idea. Women have always fought and we have fighters here at FDL.

There are folks out there who have been shocked (shocked, I tell you) at Jane Hamsher’s public stands on healthcare reform, political corruption and insider dealing. They see this as Jane Hamsher’s attacks. Even people who theoretically are on the same side.

Grow up, boys. If you won’t do the job, a better general must step up.
All hail General Jane!!

(The exhibit: Art of the Samurai is on at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, through January 10th)