Horō

'Horō' were stiffened cloaks worn by messengers ("tsukai") and bodyguards ("yojimbo") on the battlefields of feudal Japan. Their primary purpose was to improve the visibility of the wearer on the battlefield, but they also served as arrow-catchers. According to some accounts, the horō was invented by Hatakeyama Masanaga in the period of the Ōnin Wars; however, there is evidence of its use as far back as the Genpei War, almost 300 years earlier.

Horō came in many different sizes, shapes and styles, but the majority were five to seven "haba" in size, a "haba" being a standard measurement of cloth in feudal Japan. Each "haba" was one "shaku", or 30.3 cm, in length. The framework or "oikago" holding the cloak stiff, like a balloon off the warrior's back, varied greatly, but generally it involved a combination of fastening cords and, later, a staff. Cords were attached to each corner of the cloak, and were then brought around under the warrior's arms and over the shoulders, tied around the shoulders and the chest.

Originally, it was common for the horō to display the bearer's name, or "bonji" (Sanskrit), but this practice died out as armies grew larger, and the importance of identification with an army or commander ("daimyō") became more important than one's personal honor or significance. It is known that the messengers in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's army wore identical golden horō, while those in the service of Oda Nobunaga wore red and black horō.

Since horō were only worn by the highest bodyguards and messengers in a "daimyō's" army, they signified the importance of their bearers. While their large, colorful design attracted attention on the battlefield, outside of battle, many would be hesitant to attack a horō-bearer. If the horō-bearer were to die in battle, however, it was proper and honorable to cut off his head and wrap it in part of the horō. The corpse of a horō-bearer would, in theory, always be treated honorably. There was also an elaborate set of small rituals a horō-bearer must do before dying on the battlefield, if he can. These involved tying certain cords of his horō, helmet, and armor to one another, cutting his "obi" (sash), and throwing away his scabbard ("saya"), all to signify that he will fight no more.

References

*Turnbull, Stephen (1998). 'The Samurai Sourcebook'. London: Cassell & Co.