Shoulder Guards

Shoulder Guards

Shoulder Guards original: 披膊 (pībó): This component of traditional Chinese armor consists of protective mantles or pauldrons that drape over the shoulders and upper arms, providing defense against downward slashing or hacking blows.

The illustrations on this page are taken from a classical military encyclopedia (likely the Ming Dynasty Wubei Zhi). They provide a technical look at how different styles of protective plates were laced together to balance the soldier's need for defense with the mobility required for combat.

The upper diagram illustrates a shoulder guard featuring vertical rectangular plates. These plates are secured with thick cord ties, which would be used to fasten the piece to the shoulder straps of the main cuirass. This design focuses on structural stability during high-impact engagements.

The lower diagram displays a variation using a scale-like pattern. This design features a pointed or tapered top edge, which allows the guard to sit flush against the neck and shoulder line. Such scale armor was often more flexible than larger plate armor, making it ideal for soldiers who needed a wider range of motion for archery or handling long polearms.