Tokugawa Ieyasu’s Shida Gusoku

Warrior Craft in Sculptural Form

A sculptural reproduction of the armour associated with Tokugawa Ieyasu, the statesman who brought an end to Japan’s age of civil war and established over 260 years of peace during the Edo period.

Known as the Shida Gusoku (Fern Armour), this form is linked to Ieyasu’s decisive victories at the Battle of Sekigahara and the Siege of Osaka — moments that reshaped the course of Japanese history.

Symbol and Fortune

According to tradition, Ieyasu dreamt of Daikokuten, the deity of prosperity. Interpreting this as an auspicious sign, he commissioned a helmet shaped in reference to the deity’s hood.

The crest combines:

• Fern leaves (Shida) — symbolising flourishing descendants and continuity
• Lion motif — protection and warding of misfortune

Because Ieyasu secured national unification while wearing this armour, successive Tokugawa shoguns are said to have commissioned replicas, preserving its symbolic association with legitimacy and good fortune.

Leather Construction — Iyozane Technique

This piece distinguishes itself through material fidelity.

Rather than iron or paper-based scales, each individual lamella (kozane) is wrapped in high-quality cowhide, faithfully reproducing the traditional Iyozane method. The surface is finished in deep black lacquer.

The quantity of leather used is substantial — approximately equivalent to that required for ten pairs of shoes — resulting in a weighty, architectural presence.

The dense texture of leather and restrained black sheen convey authority without ornament excess.

Historical Character

Unlike ceremonial armour dedicated to shrines, the Shida Gusoku carries the identity of a ruler who consolidated power and instituted stability.

It represents not only victory in battle, but the foundation of governance and order.

Dimensions

International shipping costs are not included at checkout. Due to the size and craftsmanship of each piece, final shipping charges will be confirmed and invoiced separately after your order is placed.