During the late Heian Period in Kyoto, Japan, the rising samurai warrior class developed the iconic Ō-yoroi, or 'great armor.' This elaborate protection system was engineered specifically for elite mounted archers, featuring a rigid, box-like structure composed of individual iron and leather scales (lamellae) heavily lacquered and bound with colorful silk cords. It included massive flat shoulder guards (sode) that functioned like flexible shields, deflecting arrows when the samurai drew their heavy bows.

The intricate structure and striking color cords of the Ō-yoroi became central elements in the epic war chronicles of Japan, most notably the 'Heike Monogatari' (The Tale of the Heike). Recited by blind lute priests, these long poetic narratives lingered beautifully on descriptions of armor aesthetics as mirrors of their wearers' tragic fates.