Vietnamese armour
Vietnam has a long history of armour making that spanned more than two millennia. However, due to the lack of records and budget for archaeological studies, the evidence has been scarce.
Bronze Age and Iron Age (prehistoric to 2nd century AD)
Complete absence of native history records and lack of details in contemporary Chinese records have made tracking the development of armour in Bronze Age and Iron Age Vietnam very difficult. Instead, physical evidence has been the only source for studying of ancient Vietnamese armour.
The most common type of armour found in Northern Vietnam is mirror armour, which practically is a square or rectangular metal or wooden plate fastened to the warrior's chest. This type of armour could provide minimal protection against slashing and glancing blows. For limbs protection, there are bronze vambraces and greaves, sometimes shaped like multiple rings coiled around the wearer's forearms and legs although they were cast as single pieces. Most vambraces and greaves have small tintinnabulums attached to them. This is a feature seen also in later eras' armours.
Less common is lamellar armour, consists of small metal scales fastened together to provide protection and flexibility at the same time. Full set of lamellar armour has not yet been found but individual scales were discovered in sizable quantity. Each scale has only 2 holes for a piece of string to go through, suggesting that the method of construction may have been different from Chinese and Korean counterparts.
It is not yet understood whether lamellar and mirror armours were used in conjunction or worn separately.
Middle Age and Pre-modern age (200 BC to 19th century)
Contrary to antiquity era, physical evidence of Middle Age and Pre-modern Vietnamese armours found by far is extremely rare. The knowledge of their existence is acquired almost solely through depictions in historical texts and arts.
the History of Song informs that in 981, the Song was victorious over Đại Cồ Việt and took ten thousands suits of armour as spoil.[1]
Armour were fabricated from various types of material. Better known materials are iron and leather. Warlord Nguyễn Nộn wore a suit of iron which failed to protect him from a pike thrust in his back. The "Lê Triều hội điển" (Compilation of Lê Dynasty's customs) noted that each magistrate of each county or market was required to collect 100 buffalo hides and 2 horns each hide to fashion armours and weapons.[2]
Gallery
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Bronze greave - 4th century BC
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Bronze lamellae - 3rd to 1st century BC
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Armour of Nam Việt with reconstructed replica - 2nd century BC
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Small figurine of an armoured warrior with lion helmet - 13th century
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Lacquered wood statue of a Guardian King of Buddhism, 19th century, Tây Phương Temple, Hanoi. The Heavenly King's torso, arms, thighs and head are completely covered.
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Arm guards on a bull-headed demon, 19th century scroll, depicting Hell.