Japanese Buddhist Monks

[whill4]

What is the general consensus of the color of Japanese Buddhist monk robes worn during the 15th and 16th centuries?

[Vern]

This is from Warriors of Medieval Japan by Stephen Turnbull

The undergarment would be white, with the outer robe being white, tan or saffron. Over the outer kimono would be worn a jacket, usually black, and often a stiff gauzy ‘see-through’ material that may be noted on monastic costume today.

He surmises that the monks seen at Mount Hiei or in Nara today look little different to their predecessors.

 

[whill4]

Thanks for the reply. I have read that their outer robes were yellow however I see artwork and painted figures with orange. Anyway I am going to go with the yellow as you have described.

[Vern]

Yes I've seen similar pictures - I wonder (& really don't know) if different 'techniques' with saffron dyes can produce different colours - yellows, oranges through to almost maroon

[OSHIROmodels]

Any shade of the above really. You might get a particular temple going for a similar shade for their monks (be it dark, light or something inbetween) but it doesn't really matter 

cheers

James

[nicknorthstar]

Here are some Dave Woodward painted for North Star.

[Hildred Castaigne]

Here are some Dave Woodward painted for North Star.

Very nice, Nick!
Are those Ashigaru from Wargames Factory?

[nicknorthstar]

They are. A mix of the three boxes, Samurai, Ashigaru with spear and Ashigaru with missile weapons. They are pretty good. Kev Dallimore painted them up.

[OSHIROmodels]

Even with a cracking paint job I'm still not convinced 

The figures you have though Nick are great and are on my shopping list 

cheers

James

[whill4]

Thanks for the photo Nick. Are you telling me that all the figures in the photo are WGF plastics or just the ashigaru?

By the way I am also very excited about your samurai project. Any chance the miniatures will be released before August?

[nicknorthstar]

All the dudes in blue are plastic Wargames Factory figures, the Monks are all metal North Star figures due for release this summer.

Will they come out earlier than July, maybe, but not before June. We have made a Monk force and a Bandit force, we want to make a Samurai and his entourage and an Unarmoured Samurai  force before the release.

[whill4]

Thanks for the information. The monks in the picture have really nice poses and are well sculpted and I can't wait to get some for my collection.

[Vern]

the Monks are all metal North Star figures due for release this summer.

Looking forward to them, the monk loading his teppo looks great!

[joekano]

I'm going to chime in and ask what type of monks you want to represent, as I belive the clothing colors may have varried by sect.  I have jodo shinshu monks for my ikko ikki forces, and almost all the period images I found of them in Japan showed them in dark robes rather than the yellows and oranges common in wargaming sources.

[whill4]

Hey Joe. Nice miniatures. I am just trying to figure out the most common look. I was leaning towards yellow and then Nick posts his picture. Now I am set.