Tatami (Japanese armour) the other related parts of a full suit of Japanese armour. Collapsible head protection such as "" and other collapsible armor are also "tatami" armor; a traditional kabuto could also be part of a tatami gusoku. Tatami armour was lightweight, portable, convenient for transportation, and they were manufactured inexpensively for the ashigaru light infantry. Tatami armours were worn by all samurai classes from the highest class to the lowest class. The higher class samurai wore elaborate armour while the lower class samurai and retainers wore simpler versions. In his book "Arms and Armor of the Samurai: The History of Weaponry
Chinese armour By the end of the 4th century murals depicting horse armour covering the entire body were found in tombs as far as Yunnan. Sources mention the capture of thousands of "armored horses" in a single battle. During the Northern and Southern dynasties period (420-589), a style of armour called "cord and plaque" became popular, as did shields and long swords. "Cord and plaque" armour consisted of double breast plates in the front and back held in position by two shoulder straps and waist cords, worn over the usual lamellar armour. This type of armour was called "liang-tang" (double faced) armour