Text: Dazhuang Laboratory
In ancient times, the army in war often needed to wear tight and bulky armor, even in hot weather, why can't soldiers take off their armor at will, to reduce the burden on their bodies?
What is Armor?
Armor, just like the body armor of ancient warriors, in the ancient battlefield of cold weapons, there are flying spears and arrows everywhere, without armor protection, it will be difficult for soldiers to survive this chaotic battle.
The role of armor is to provide a hard layer of protection for warriors, protecting them from the opponent's sword, spear and other things.
But armor is not just a hard thing, it has to be strong and not too heavy, otherwise the soldier will have trouble moving and talk about war.
Therefore, the main body of the armor is usually made of many small pieces of metal, or hard leather woven through iron wire or hemp rope, these small pieces of metal or hard leather are tightly overlapped, which can not only block the enemy's attacks, but also allow the soldier to move freely.
In particular, the chest and back, which are prone to death, are usually more protected, while the legs and wrists, which need to be moved, are designed to be more flexible.
Why is armor like modern body armor? Because armor works in a similar way to body armor, and its most basic function is to prevent the enemy's swords, spears, arrows and other weapons from directly piercing or cutting the soldier's body.
Secondly, it can cushion the damage of blunt objects, such as when hit by a sledgehammer or axe, the metal pieces or scales on the armor are overlapped, and the impact force will also be dispersed over a larger area, reducing direct damage to the body.
At the same time, armor was also a status symbol, and the armor of high-ranking generals, nobles or members of the royal family was usually more elaborate and decorative, sometimes even inlaid with gemstones, painted with elaborate patterns, or equipped with special insignia and emblems.
These decorations not only show the wealth and status of the wearer, but also reflect the power and honor of the army, family, or country to which he belongs.
Why can't you take off your armor immediately after a war? This is actually closely related to the environment of ancient warfare, first of all, the situation on the battlefield is always unpredictable, and even after the battle, it does not mean that you are completely safe.
The enemy may take advantage of your armor to launch a surprise attack on you, causing the army to rout, and the generals of ancient times usually asked the soldiers not to take off their armor until they are sure that they are completely safe, so as not to be seized by the enemy when their defenses are lax.
Secondly, the protection of the armor comes from the tightly knit various armor pieces, since it is tightly knitted, it will definitely be greatly reduced in air permeability, and in the case of high-intensity physical exercise such as war, the heat accumulated in the armor is also very huge.
Rashly taking off the armor and being attacked by the cold wind will cause the pores and blood vessels to shrink rapidly, and at the same time, the heat in the body has not yet been dissipated, resulting in the occurrence of armor removal wind, which is dizzy and dizzy in the light, and organ failure in the heavy, which is undoubtedly a devastating blow to the ancient battlefield.
There is also the composition of the armor is very precise, especially the heavy armor, it is difficult for individuals to wear directly, before wearing the soldier will wear special underwear, this underwear is usually thicker, which can reduce the friction and discomfort caused by direct contact between the armor and the skin.
Attach cushions or braces to joints, such as knees, elbows, etc., to provide additional protection and comfort, and wear armor usually with the lower body parts of the body, such as leg guards and shoes.
This was followed by the cuirass, which was also the heaviest and most complex part, consisting of two parts, the front chest and the back, which needed to be fastened or fastened with straps, followed by arm guards and shoulder armor.
Finally, put on a helmet, gloves, cape or other decorative items, and after you have fully put on them, you need to check that each part is firmly in place to make sure there are no loose places.
At the same time, some simple exercises, such as bending over, twisting, waving arms, etc., to test the range of motion and comfort of the armor, this whole process takes at least half an hour or more, and the soldiers are exhausted in their free time after the war.
You can't remove the armor on your own, so in many TV series, the soldier only takes off the helmet at most, and finally, the armor is not only a protective equipment for the soldier, but also a spiritual pillar.
Soldiers in armor can feel strong, safe, and invulnerable, and taking off their armor immediately after a battle can make them feel helpless and vulnerable, which is a big blow to morale.
The history of the development of armor
In the beginning, in order to hunt in the wild or defend against enemies, the ancestors invented the most primitive armor, and the armor at that time was actually animal fur, or natural materials such as leaves and bark.
Although this armor was rudimentary, it was a good defensive tool at the time, not only to ensure that it would not be harmed by animals and plants while hunting, but also to obtain a certain heat preservation effect.
Later, with the advent of iron tools, armor also began to enter the "Iron Age", and during the Warring States Period, there was armor spliced with iron or bronze pieces, which was stronger than the original leather armor, and even if it was an enemy's sword or arrow, it was not so easy to hurt the body.
By the Han Dynasty, armor production technology had also taken to the next level, with the emergence of iron fish-scale armor, which was made up of many small pieces of iron in series, which could effectively resist attacks without losing flexibility.
In the Tang and Song dynasties, the production process of armor was more exquisite, the iron armor of the Tang Dynasty was strong and durable, and the Song Dynasty paid more attention to the practicality and protective effect of armor.
Especially in the Song Dynasty, due to the emphasis on infantry, the development of armor reached a new height, and the armor at that time was not only protective, but also more humane in design, customized infantry armor for different groups of people.
In the Ming and Qing dynasties, although the popularity of firearms greatly reduced the role of traditional armor in actual combat, the development of armor did not stop there.
In the Qing Dynasty, although the status of armor on the battlefield was no longer there, it was still indispensable equipment on some specific occasions, such as ceremonies or celebrations.
In modern times, armor is no longer a frequent visitor on the battlefield, but in cultural activities, such as Peking Opera, movies, and TV dramas, armor can still be widely used as an important cultural symbol.
The cruelty of war
Although armor can ensure that soldiers will not be fatally injured to a certain extent, the emergence of war is also undesirable, because there is war means casualties, which means that some children have no fathers, and some wives have no husbands.
War, the word may sound far away, but its cruelty is real, on the battlefield, soldiers face the test of life and death, they can lose their comrades in an instant, or even lose their own lives.
And those who are lucky enough to survive are often more difficult to heal from their psychological wounds than from their bodies, and they may be haunted by nightmares, haunted by the past, and the psychological pain is even more unbearable than the physical pain.
War has devastated homes and torn families apart, children have lost their parents, parents have lost their children, homes, schools, hospitals have been razed to the ground, and the whole world has been wiped out in the flames of war.
In the aftermath of war, it takes a huge amount of time and money to rebuild homes, and it is difficult to recover lost loved ones and broken hearts, and the war consumes a lot of financial resources, destroys industries and markets, and causes many people to lose jobs and livelihoods.
The environment has also been devastated, forests, rivers and land have been destroyed, the ecological balance has been disrupted, and many historical buildings, precious works of art and documents have been destroyed in the war, which is also a huge loss for all mankind.
In addition, the war has led to a large number of refugees, many of whom have to leave their homes, uprooted and seek safety in unfamiliar places, but the road to escape is fraught with difficulties and dangers, and their future is full of uncertainty and fear.
The impact of war is far-reaching and devastating, claiming lives not only on the battlefield but continuing to affect survivors and societies as a whole long after the war, which is why all nations and peoples of the world should work together to avoid war.
Although the armor has gradually become history in the torrent of the times, but the war is still ongoing, different from the homelessness in ancient times, people may now face the destruction of lives, or the destruction of the world's disasters, I hope that there will never be war in the world!