Helmet with ornament bearing seed syllable for Fudō Myōō, 17th century, Unknown Japanese, 30 5/16 × 21 7/8 × 15 1/4 in. (77 × 55.5 × 38.74 cm) (on mount, wings erect), Iron, gilt copper, deerskin, silk, and lacquer, Japan, 17th century, With its wide-spreading laced neck guard (shikoro) and curving face protectors (fukikaeshi), this helmet is typical of the type used with Japan's classic armor for mounted warriors, o_yoroi, constructed by lacing metal or leather pieces together. The heraldic front pieces of this example are particularly dramatic, with extremely long kuwagata (stylized long blades). The central disk is emblazoned with the Sanskrit characters for the Buddhist deity Fudo_ Myo_-o_, 'the immovable king of brightness.' Thus, the owner of this helmet hoped that the fierce implacability of this demigod would accompany him into battle.