The Styles of Menpo - Samurai Face Masks
Переглядів 173,821
Рік томуIn this quick video we dive in and discuss the different designs/styles of Samurai face masks and theorize as to what some of them mean and why they were used.
Check out Samurai headwear videos in accompaniment to this one:
"Samurai Face Masks" by Samurai and Ninja History
• Samurai Face Masks
"Mengu and the Helmet Cords" by Sengoku Studies • Mengu and the Helmet C...
"Why Did Samurai Use Masks? How Many Types Existed? What do they mean?" by Metatron • Why Did Samurai Use Ma...
Sources Used:
"Menpō (面頬): Samurai War Mask" Article by Gunsen History gunbai-militaryhistory.blogspo...
"The Book of Samurai: Arms, Armor, & the Tactics of Warfare" By Antony Cummins and Yoshie Minami
"Samurai Weapons & Fighting Techniques" by Thomas Conlan
Another Great Article in Japanese www.touken-world.jp/tips/37265/
Music:
"Sinfonia Tapkaara" by Akira Ifukube
Artwork and Images:
Photographs from Museum exhibits
Classical art, which in most cases can be considered public domain.
Other modern artist renditions and photos, if you see your work in this video please contact me so that I can give you proper credit!
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Social Media:
Facebook: / theshogunateyoutube
Twitter: / shogunatethe
Support the channel on Patreon! www.patreon.com/theshogunatey...
#Samurai #History #Japan
@IKEMENOsakaman Рік тому
If your opponent is scared you can intimidate him. If your opponent is angry you can bait him into exposing himself. If your opponent is calm you had better be at your best because he is.
@comradekenobi6908 Рік тому
- Sun Zu
@ExcuseZero Рік тому
Agreed, this is what I was taught and what I teach. It's VITAL for a world getting crazier on the day to day streets.
@ontyam 11 місяців тому
@@comradekenobi6908copy and pasted from another comment on another video about this subject.
@ryanjdevlin87 5 місяців тому
copy and pasted from around 221-475BC@@ontyam
@te9591 2 місяці тому
Unless your opponent is a Berserker making him angry may only make him stronger, in that case, play a lute for him.
@supersasukemaniac Рік тому
part of me has always held the idea that a part of the Devil Shibata nickname for Katsuie was probably inspired by a demonic looking mask he probably wore, also the full face mask that looked like Bishomonten, I could seriously see Uesugi Kenshin wearing that during ceremonies or something since he considered himself an Avatar of Bishomonten.
@Seanthegreatestofall 7 місяців тому
Uesugi Kenshin, a Graceful leader who remains a legend to this day even to foreigners. All should learn about him.
@stevenmitchell6347 Місяць тому
Interesting that it's often overlooked that the Samurai were headhunters. They habitually took the heads and helmets of their enemies and displayed them to intimidate their opponents.
@teahugibson610 28 днів тому
Most non European cultures followed that practice especially in the indigenous groups in Amazon Indonesia and Polynesian cultures
@garyhardison9265 23 дні тому
It was a grave disrespect not to oil your hair before combat by samurai. The reason was to provide a good trophy to the victor
@lucycooper9149 Місяць тому
Having spent some time high medieval European helmets and modern fencing masks, I have to say that the menpo doesn't look too bad. I also suspect that there may have been some form of internal padding to improve fit and reduce sweating, since metal on skin tends to chafe over long periods.
@-RONNIE Рік тому
I really did enjoy this video. I learned a couple of new things. Thank you for sharing it with us & keep up the good work 👍🏻
@Megametalwolf 10 місяців тому
Excellent work and editing. Fantastic thank you.
@Alyoscha_TAHK Рік тому
The tengubo look beautiful❤️Outstanding works of art💯
@AntonyCummins Рік тому
Always awesome. I think this month is the highest number of videos
@jimross7648 Рік тому
As unusual you describe and explain. I learn things I did not know, and frankly had not thought about.
@TheShogunate Рік тому
Yees, there is just so much hidden context
@boah2759 Рік тому
The menpo in my opinion the most badass looking mask
@twinblades-thewilltokeeplo6084 Рік тому
Always thought that Kosaka Masanobu was a badass because of his mask when I played Nobunaga's Ambition games when I was a kid. Can't wait for Nobunaga's Ambition Shinsei English version. =)
@ShuajoX Рік тому
Masks worn close to the face would do little to stop blunt force when compared to a full faced helmet. I myself own a set of modern made samurai armor. The nose piece on my menpo comes off too easily. I've heard menpo had a hole on the chin for sweat drainage, but mine lacks such a feature. The fearsome look is great psychological warfare.
@deadby15 Рік тому
Prolly it was more effective against stray arrows.
@ShuajoX Рік тому
@@deadby15 That's fair. History is littered with leaders whose faces were struck by stray arrows.
@MaaZeus Рік тому
Against a straight on strike, yes a mask that is flush against your face does very little BUT it does still dissipate the power over a larger area. So a glancing blow that could shatter your cheek bone could be reduced into just hurting like a mofo over your face.
@ShuajoX Рік тому
@@MaaZeus That's certainly fair.
@samuraijackoff5354 Рік тому
Blunt damage is the bane of most If not all armors
@tristiansmith3863 Рік тому
thank you for the content 🙏
@justanothertrash5062 Рік тому
I was just searching for traditional samurai face masks as inspiration for a character's design and this came right in time!
@SengokuStudies Рік тому
Excellent video.
@KaiDaigneau Рік тому
This video has been very informative indeed! I'm working on a face mask as part of a suit of cosplay samurai armor, and this is important stuff for me to learn about. Your hard work is greatly appreciated :)
@nemesis3587 Рік тому
Facial haired ones looks ridiculous and awesome at the same time. My favorite is demon looking ones, they could spread fear at the battlefield. I always imagine red devils of Takeda wear them and after Takeda's downfall Naomasa Ii and his soldiers wear them.
@samwill7259 Рік тому
If you gotta wear it to keep from getting an arrow or a spear to the face then you might as well make it look cool.
@Srrrgp Рік тому
Nice vid! I see you included an image of amakusa shirō. Have you tackled the shimabara rebellion already? I recommend reading a book called “christ’s samurais”, it is just fantastic.
@TheShogunate Рік тому
I will eventually talk about the Shimabara Rebellion!
@theuniverse5173 Рік тому
@@TheShogunate You should read christs samurai
@mikotagayuna8494 Рік тому
It can be tedious to wear face masks in these times so I got one designed to look like Menpo. Now, I can glare menacingly at strangers while clutching the hilt of my non-existent katana while walking to work.
@kagemushashien8394 2 місяці тому
What's Menpo? Edit: comment early, now I know.
@Harry-bc2dn 4 дні тому
Great video
@bigmac8168 Рік тому
Great info👍🌅🇸🇪
@mecahhannah 26 днів тому
❤ Awesome as always thanks
@stevefrench7036 Рік тому
Menpo was the shit! Had l been samurai, l would probably have ditched practicality for coolness. And died, but died looking cool.
@obnoxiouspedant Місяць тому
That's what life's about, live to die cool 😎
@danielspence3530 Рік тому
great videos broski
@DaveLopez575 6 місяців тому
Awesome
@joaomanoel3197 Рік тому
Please,a vídeo about mercenary samurai in southeast asian,there is a book about ito called The lost samurai by Stephen turnbull.
@TheShogunate Рік тому
Definitely a fascinating subject
@joaomanoel3197 Рік тому
@@TheShogunate thanks
@pablojesussantanatorres5721 Рік тому
I think you are referring to a samurai who served the Thai kingdom during the fifteenth century and who became a prestigious general, even founded a Japanese neighborhood and defeated incursions by the Spanish Tercios
@JozefLucifugeKorzeniowski 8 місяців тому
none of these manage to be as deeply unsettling as the roman cavalry masks for some reason.
@m4tt707 Місяць тому
In my head it’s because the face is showing emotion on menpo. The Roman masks have a face devoid of any emotion. The idea of someone attacking you in battle with a completely straight face just feels inhuman.
@Infinitebrandon Рік тому
I'll check out those channels but I love Linfamy sama most, as well as your work for Ukraine doctors. Great video
@garynaccarato4606 24 дні тому
I do agree that even if full mask might have possibly been used in battle they would have also been something which was quite rare.
@shogunemperor Рік тому
Brilliant content man!! Love it.
@shinmentakezo6258 Рік тому
Love from India 🇮🇳🇮🇳❤️❤️
@comradekenobi6908 Рік тому
Can you do a video on the different types/shapes of Jingasa? I've search a long time for it online but can't seem to find anything, which is sad if you know anything about this topic can you tell me where to find the information? Thx
@TheShogunate Рік тому
I definitely could, but I should also mention that Sengoku Studies and I think even Japan at War have mad videos regarding the Jingasa
@comradekenobi6908 Рік тому
@@TheShogunate thanks but I've already watched those two videos before, The reason I asked you is because you have a knowledge of sources about Japanese history online Also I just want to know if you have any websites or articles that I could use to study deeper about Jingasa?
@TheShogunate Рік тому
@@comradekenobi6908 Regarding the Jingasa, it can be quite difficult simply because it appears there are not many sources available in English that look like they are 100% trustworthy. However if you google the actual kanji for the term 笠 (Kasa - hat) you can find a lot of great articles written in Japanese. For this I recommend using google chrome so you can auto-translate the sites. Of course the translations may not be the best but you can generally get a solid idea of what is being discussed.
@comradekenobi6908 Рік тому
@@TheShogunate Arigato gozaimazu!!
@alexpointon784 29 днів тому
You can see that the small eye holes on the pieces that you say are ceremonial wouldn't be practical as they would limit perrifieral vision. This is the case with modern boxing headgear that has cheek protectors, it really limits your perrifieral vision. The wider eyeholes of the more practical designs would limit perrifieral vision much less but are also less protective. It seems like many of the helmets shown have a brim that covers these exposed eye holes, I guess to protect against thrusts and arrows? The large nose and mouth holes would help prevent carbon dioxide building up inside the mask (a problem with fullface European helmets) , but again leave parts of the face exposed. The elongated noses actually come down in front of the mouth hole, meaning that air can come in and out, but the gap is more protected
@jasonvega9942 Місяць тому
How effective was the armor, in general to weapons of the time
@TheShogunate Місяць тому
Very
@eeyorehaferbock7870 3 дні тому
I can’t be the only one who thinks that the “old man” mask at 7:30 looks like the face of the River Spirit from Spirited Away.
@saberserpent1134 Місяць тому
Mempo, worn with full yoroi/O-yoroi. Kamakura-jidai is when the masks started getting really fancy. The most terrifying kabuto/mempo combo I've ever seen was a stylized usagi (rabbit) with sharp, spiked teeth, wild eyes, and large vertical ears. Horrifying.
@UlpianHeritor Рік тому
Hean period? It might be better to add a date or link to a video of that period for people who have no idea what that is.
@TheShogunate Рік тому
I completely understand. Normally I do add the dates (as I did with the Sengoku period in this video). But there was already a lot of other wording on screen at the time when I mentioned the Heian period so I chose not to add it as well.
@rmj7306 Рік тому
How did they even make those!?
@Infinitebrandon Рік тому
I'm more of a vagabond that wins without a mask but I'm certain they were very important. Most informative 🙏 let's see what your friends channels have now 🤙 go Ukraine!
@SandyRiverBlue Місяць тому
It strikes me how similar the happuri face mask is to the face gaurd on a hoplite helmet. There is historical evidence of hoplite mercenaries in China before this period so the similarity in name also strikes me as being curious.
@JohnMiller-zr8pl Рік тому
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
@GunterThePenguinHatesHugs Місяць тому
6:46 _"誰か「いしとせき」申さなかったか?"_
@Yubayasun Місяць тому
これは槍や弓矢から守るものではなく、印地打ちから顔を守る為にあります。 印地打ちはsling shotを意味します。 これらの面頬は鉄に樹脂が塗られたもので、現代の野球用ヘルメットのように衝撃に強い。 この時代の樹脂は、漆を意味します。
@ferrodriguez7387 Рік тому
Long live the Samurai
@foolish_ahmya Рік тому
theyre all dead tho
@comradekenobi6908 Рік тому
@@foolish_ahmya don't care
@ferrodriguez7387 Рік тому
@@foolish_ahmya you can learn to live The Way of the Samurai or live by the Bushido code, so Samurai mentality is what I'm more saying long live to
@TheShogunate Рік тому
@@ferrodriguez7387 I love the sentiment! and I agree we can learn a lot today about how to conduct ourselves like that of the samurai. However I do think it is important to point out that we should really not use the term Bushido. Our modern Idea of it is mostly false to what it actually was. I made a video on this subject: "The Bushido Myth" ukposts.info/have/v-deo/h2WBfo5on5qAsZc.html&ab_channel=TheShogunate
@jayusmaximus2322 Рік тому
Unrelated question to the videos topic but what did samurai or ashigaru do when they found the dead bodies of people who committed seppeku? Was there quick looting and stripping of the bodies real quick , did they just wrap them up and bury them there or defile them?
@SavageSword1993 Рік тому
Anyone else think of kensei when looking at the thumbnail?
@athenovae Місяць тому
Can you do a review of the 2017 Chinese movie called God of War that depicts Japan’s expansion into China during the Ming dynasty? :)
@mattnobrega6621 27 днів тому
Are kabuki style face masks worn by the samurai as well, or was that just some modern movie flare 🤔
@AnthonyLayfield 23 дні тому
Darth Vader: *Heavy Breathing*
@athenovae Місяць тому
The demonic masks seem similar to the Jade Emperor’s heavenly palace guards’ faces in Chinese and Vietnamese culture.
@Bboykidcombo Місяць тому
Oni 🤯
@mrAMMW Рік тому
i wonder if these masks influenced Noh masks or vice versa
@TheShogunate Рік тому
The evolution of Noh theatre ran a bit parallel to the evolution of face armor so it definitely could have!
@hanchiman Рік тому
In a battle point of view.... was these mask practical to wear during fighting?
@comradekenobi6908 Рік тому
If you're a high ranking noble and don't want your face to be disfigured during fighting, yes
@hanchiman Рік тому
@@comradekenobi6908 Fair enough I guess
@TheShogunate Рік тому
This is all part of the current debate ongoing to this day.
@comradekenobi6908 Рік тому
@@TheShogunate hello Sorry to copy pasted this, but incase you missed my response to your comment from earlier; _thanks but I've already watched those two videos before,_ _The reason I asked you is because you have a knowledge of sources about Japanese history online_ _Also I just want to know if you have any websites or articles that I could use to study deeper about Jingasa?_
@hanchiman Рік тому
@@TheShogunate I think the Half mask Hanbo that protect the chin was used alot as it looks much more practical as it protect your cheek and also chin. Also in chambara movies where the bandits would wear looted armor. The face guard Happuri (the same one that Toshiro Mifune wore in 7 Samurai at the near end battle) was used alot by ashigaru vanguard, thus we see alot of bandits in movies wear them as they might be deserters or brigands
@MaelPlaguecrow6942 Рік тому
So THAT'S what the mask is!
@dmitritelvanni4068 Місяць тому
If only regular face masks had mustaches. I might have worn one more in the COVID days
@justinkauffman731 8 днів тому
Onibaba had the greatest mask story ever, albeit on a different way.
@pepperspray7386 Місяць тому
there are accounts from crusaders having their faces cut off in battle, im willing to bet even the most impractical looking masks were used at one time in combat.
@derekrwatson346 Місяць тому
It makes you think they must have used these as inspiration for the design of the green goblin mask in the first Spider-Man movie.
@Thrasher610 6 місяців тому
Darth V!
@tonk8395 Рік тому
Sheeeeeeeeeesh
@comradekenobi6908 Рік тому
Legio I Germanica is better
@tonk8395 Рік тому
@@comradekenobi6908 Shut, we killed 80 000 celts in one day.
@comradekenobi6908 Рік тому
@@tonk8395 we killed 8 Morbillion Germans daily
@tonk8395 Рік тому
@@comradekenobi6908 L+ bozo+ rip+ didn't ask+ this is a reenacment group.
@comradekenobi6908 Рік тому
@@tonk8395 wanna fight it out to see who's the best? Just like the old times
@frederikortmann6545 Місяць тому
The mask at 08:50 looks like Nixon
@almost_harmless Місяць тому
If anyone wondered what inspired Darth Vader's helm and mask...
@notagoodman Місяць тому
I imagine the protruding chin and wrinkles on the face improve protection by redirecting blows to the side
@FranFerioli Місяць тому
After all, also Dart Vader had problem breathing under the mask.
@joaomanoel3197 Рік тому
Muito bom 🇧🇷👍🏻👍🏻
@niropaxum958 Місяць тому
I expected them to be one inspired
@brandimyhren6317 Місяць тому
Seriously doubt they wore these into any kind of prolonged battle or war. They were probably for solders show of force to intemidate or when burning down villages. Sometimes a lord or high rank may need to escape unrecognized. They look amazing however and multiple pieces had to be tied on with heavy braided rope of sorts.
@kaligath6616 7 місяців тому
I always believed the mask was for protection but also to represent a oni (the japanease methos of a demon) hence why samurai at some point was refereed to as demons because of how elite they was considered that there capability was not human.
@bradkaberline5828 Місяць тому
If he has a mustache that means he is a master barber good with a razor and the last guy thar messed with him is know monk now
@ChitosVids Рік тому
If shinobi were samurai, did they also wear masks?
@naimakka1949 24 дні тому
1:58 canonically sukuna could have worn menpo
@gerardrubiano714 Рік тому
Fabuleux !!! Sorry Fabulous, I am french !!!
@JagoShogun 19 днів тому
Always remember there is one Shogun, me. I always called it 面具 or mengu, but I agree, the artistic, styilstic look and practical vs "realism, just a human face" carved in less evolved societies like the west has always been my favorite part about them. I also disagree with people always thinking practicality determines whether something was used. You'd be surprised how ostentanious chinese and japanese are in terms of flexing on their enemies their own wealth and the superstitious belief of "talisman" culture and nature these totems bring them. The west lacks and forsakes art for enginuity and lost touch with the spirit of humanity, and other powerful beings you can summon when one is more artistic.
@elshebactm6769 Рік тому
👍🏿🤠👍🏿
@charliebrown4799 Місяць тому
The Japanese have a saying: Everyone has three faces. One they show to the world. One they show to their family and friends. And one they dont show to anyone. Or something like that🤷
@fusemalaysia840 Рік тому
this type of gene is white/purity version appear in three or something...pretty much scary..
@bradkaberline5828 Місяць тому
Really no meaning but the way of the warriors the nights before the battle same as native American traditions you build your spirits up and enjoy life before the battle knowing that people may not come back that's why the horse riders would charge in like the saying face your fear head on and not prolong it so to say as well as dress in your best combat fatigues and prepare for death not suicidal just not wanting to lay wounded for days but to just face your fear head on and hope for the best. But different times and Era but interesting video
@danielspence3530 Рік тому
first comment
@tonk8395 Рік тому
Bruh momento
@danielspence3530 Рік тому
@@tonk8395 Thank you roman
@drachedoom 25 днів тому
Protection against spiritual forces , I felt sometimes drained then I toke my magical rope on and mask buum! Like I banish someone n I felt better.. 👹👻
@djehuty. Рік тому
thanx for the 10 min ad break bye
@christiandelao2547 24 дні тому
Calling it Armor seems inaccurate, they wouldnt offer any protection, any hit to the mask would transfer the energy of the hit into the persons face, only armor like function i could see them serving would be to protect from crap kicked up by horses in a charge
@joebiglousanchez8266 Місяць тому
Custom assassin wear,way before John Wick. Shogun Gucci
@darthkek1953 Місяць тому
Fun Fact #1 : they were modelled after the constipated look of a man who had eaten too much sticky rice Fun Fact #2 : the above fact isn't a fact
@kranx2690 2 місяці тому
I like to believe that this people used them to sort of detach themselves from the battles and war as a sort of coping technique. Idk much about the history but putting a mask on to become another "you" seems ritualistic and healing in a way
@soapalot Місяць тому
We all wear masks, metaphorically speaking.
@lucasbrucas9632 27 днів тому
alright Mishima, calm down
@silentdogfart4892 23 дні тому
Gee. Thanks…
@daniellekrystine8968 23 дні тому
But not everyone could be a samurai...
@TheShortYautja 22 дні тому
Masterful comment
@abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwc 13 днів тому
Plato it's just armor
@th.burggraf7814 Місяць тому
Psychological warfare
@rafiqkatana 3 місяці тому
That felt more like an intro to a video with actual information. So, cutting short like that was annoying. Still, it was better than most done by westerners.
@robwalsh9843 3 місяці тому
As far as intimidating war masks go, I'd say its a toss up between the Samurai, Norse and Turkic groups like the Cumans and Kipchaks.
@usawaraney Місяць тому
Ever since visiting the samurai exhibition at the Denver Art Museum and learning about them, my favorite has been the long phallic nosed menpo like the one you pictured at 8:50 that the Japanese started make after encountering white people to poke fun of their big noses!
@user-is9nm4vw8j Рік тому
Now that i think about it. Tengu probably just a big nosed european guy with a sun burn.
@Man_fay_the_Bru Місяць тому
Imagine seeing that for the 1st time back then, you’d shit yourself
@keaulanakapule Місяць тому
sounds like you made sure your pronunciation was correct for the mask types, but still mispronounce samurai?
@averythompkins3682 Рік тому
GOD loves you enough to send HIS only SON to save you and if you repent and turn from your sins and be baptized in THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON and THE HOLY SPIRIT. ((if you haven't )
@ultrachad7766 Рік тому
Amen brother
@yikes6969 10 місяців тому
cope harder
@michael3088 Місяць тому
yeah if you're mentally ill
@huymammin5915 13 днів тому
6:10 that is why mario bros is so popular in Japan 🤔
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