History of Saddles

Background and Design of Samurai Saddles:

During Japan’s Nara period (710-794 AD), they adopted the Chinese-style saddle. However, significant alterations occurred during the subsequent Hien Period (794-1185 AD), resulting in the creation of the “Kura'' or Japanese saddle. The utilization of horses in warfare began in the fourth century AD, with calvary playing a pivotal role in battles, promoting increased horse usage. Exclusive to the Samurai class until the end of the samurai era in 1868, riding in a saddle became a symbol of status. The lower class resorted to packing saddles or riding bareback. With the advent of the Meiji period and the demise of the samurai era, non-samurai gained the right to openly ride horses, eventually leading to the adoption of saddles akin to those in the Western world. 

Saddle designs aimed to ensure stability and mobility for warriors, accommodating various weapons like bows, arrows, spears, and swords. Samurai saddles differed from Western ones by being relatively flat and lacking prominent pommels and cantles, facilitating swift mounting, dismounting, and agile movement during combat. Primarily constructed from wood and covered with leather, samurai saddles often featured decorative embellishments like lacquer, metal fittings, or intricate carvings. The Kura boasted a leather seat known as the basin or kura tsubo, with slots for stirrups, while large leather flaps called aori hung from the sides to protect the horse. The Kurabane, the saddle’s wooden frame, typically crafted from red oak, compromised four main components, the maewa (pommel), shizuwa (cantle), and two igi (contoured sidebands), ensuring structural integrity. Overall the evolution of Japanese saddles reflects not only practical adaptions but also cultural shifts in Jpan's hisotry. From the exlusive domain of the samurai class to broader societia; acceptnace in the Mejo Period, the saddle's signifcnace transcended mere utility, becoming a symbol of status aand cultural idenity. As a testment of craftmanship and functionality, samurai saddles embodythe fusion of traditon, innovation and material prowess, leaving an indelible mark on Japanese history and equestrian culture. 

Functionality in Combat 

Samurai were trained to shoot arrows accurately from horseback, utilizing the stability provided by the saddle as a platform for drawing and releasing the bowstring. The open frame design of the Japanese stirrups (abumi) enabled the samurai to effectively use their feet in combat, whether for stability, bracing against impacts, or delivering kicks to opponents. Reinforcing the rider's control were the reins, bit, bridle, and a wooden saddle (kura) with cup-shaped stirrups, enabling the rider to fire the bow while standing and making it significantly more difficult to unseat them. While horses were rarely armored, their feet were shod (which means to fit a horse with shoes), and they sometimes wore straw sandals (umagutsu) to reduce noise when approaching enemies. In the heat of battle, the hefty wooden saddle with leather stirrups provided a sturdy platform, allowing the rider to stand and fire arrows with precision from horseback.

Symbolism and Status

The kura and abumi features complex motifs and designs filled with literary significance, enhancing the noble image and personal identity of the samurai. Such decorative elements, ranging from shell inlay to golden brocade, wool, and colored lacquer, symbolized the elevated status of the samurai. Additionally, banners and other identifying markers adorning the saddles and armor aided in distinguishing individual samurai amidst the chaos of the battlefield.

Japanese Saddles or Kura were decorated with a range of designs and constructed in a relatively simple manner. Made of four pieces of constructed wood held together by joints and fastened with leather or hemp lacing. The intricate designs on the saddles were meant to be complex and exquisite.

The Japanese saddle or Kura was created for mobility and control to allow Samurai to perform to the best of their ability in battle. Their construction is quite simple yet their designs have extremely intricate details. As the image shows the saddle has 4 parts. The Maewa which is the pommel, the Shizuka which is the cantel or the back arch, and the two Igi which are the sideboards that hold the other parts in place. The construction of the saddle remained over time but the style of the saddles was constantly changing. Similar to the way clothes contributed to your social status, the saddle was a way to represent elegance and display wealth.  The designs were made with an Urishi lacquer that gave the saddles a glossy finish and helped the durability of the saddle. Over time the designs went from simple designs to elaborately crafted patterns. Many of the saddles also had seals or family crests to display their family name.