Helmet and Neck Guard

Helmetoriginal: 頭鍪 (Tóumóu). This term specifically refers to the rigid, protective bowl of the helmet. and Neck Guardoriginal: 頓項 (Dùnxiàng). Literally "bowed neck," this refers to the protective aventail—a skirt of mail, fabric, or laminated plates—that hangs from the helmet to shield the neck and shoulders.

The illustration accompanying this text (likely from the military compendium Wubei Zhi or Wujing Zongyao) shows a woodcut of a traditional helmet. It features a vertical plume at the crown and a tiered, laminated neck protector attached to the lower rim, with chin straps for stability.

The Helmet and its attached Neck Guard constitute the primary head protection for the Ming soldier. The rigid crown is often topped with a decorative plume, while the neck guard is designed with multiple layers. This tiered construction is essential for defense; it allows the soldier to rotate their head with ease while the overlapping plates or reinforced fabric deflect strikes from blades or arrows that might otherwise find a gap at the throat.

In this era of warfare, headgear served both a functional and a symbolic role. While the sturdy construction protected the wearer from the impacts of hand-to-hand combat, the height of the plume and the ornamentation on the bowl often signaled the rank and status of the officer within the military hierarchy.