Rokugan 201

Rokugan 201
Lion Clan Clothing: All classes wear traditional clothing with very muted colors. While Clan colors are common, they are not always the norm. Dark Greys, Blacks, Browns, Burnt Orange and Yellow, Navy Blue, and all earth tones, are all commonly worn through out the year with Clan Colors (Gold, Yellow, Copper, Brown, and Earth Tones) during the Court Season. Samurai often wear two layered kimono, and a variety of outer garments as well. Male samurai usually wear a kamishimo, which is a combination of hakama (wide trousers, similar to a divided skirt) and a kataginu, a sleeveless, sideless vest which exaggerates the shoulders. Alternatively, a haori (a short coat) or a hitatare (a kataginu without the stiffened shoulders, but with sleeves and a decorative string across the chest) can be worn with the hakama. The hakama are impractical when riding, so a samurai going out on horseback usually wears kobakama, a more close-fitting type of trousers. The daimon, finally, is a huge kimono with very wide sleeves, decorated with oversized versions of the wearer's mon in several places, including on the hem of the sleeves. The Kimono and Kamishimo are often worn when around the home or in the presence of friends and Clansmen, while the Daimon is often worn at court by Bushi, but not always. The Daimon is not a good fighting outfit, so if the Bushi expects a duel or risk of fighting, she will usually forgoe that for the Kimono and Kamishimo. Courtiers however, wear a kariginu, a long overcoat with a high, round collar and huge sleeves, which is either worn out or tucked into the hakama. Those who really wish to impress onlookers with their style also wear nagabakama, similar to ordinary hakama but with legs so long that they trail on the floor, making them extremely difficult to walk in. Needless to say, it is all but impossible to move quickly in such clothes, at least not without looking ridiculous; some courtiers claim that the styles were introduced for that very purpose, to limit outbreaks of violence in court. Eboshi (cloth caps) or hats are common accessories for courtiers. Shugenja will wear, to a man, a traditional Priest's clothes. This is usually a larger Kimono that stretches to the floor and a loose, unbelted outer Kimono set over the top. Like many Samurai, the Priest often wears an under-Kimono close to the skin as an undergarment. The Priest often drapes prayer scrolls set in silk or prayer beads as a necklace. While some Shugenja will wear the clothing of a warrior, it is considered ighly disrespectful to do so when communing with the Ancestors, so even if his typical daily wear is that of a Bushi or Courtier, the Shugenja will always dress in the formal priest's clothing for his trips into other realms (Yumi-do, Tengoku, etc) http://albumen.stanford.edu/gallery/gadd/5.html http://albumen.stanford.edu/gallery/gadd/3.html Hairstyles: The Lion clan hair comes in two styles: traditional Samurai topknot (with or without the shaved tonsure) and Long and mane-like. When done in the traditional style, there is nothing to distinguish it from any other Samurai hair style. Severe, short, and a doubled over top knot. The Samurai may or may not shave the front of their head (called a tonsure shave), but usually do. One Akodo Samurai once explained that he shaved the front so that his helmet sat better and held a firmer grip on the skull. Whatever the reason, this hair style is seen all over Rokugan and should not be considered to be different or varying from the norm. The second style should be noted however. Many Matsu, Kitsu, and even a few Akodo favor a longer hairstyle, wildly fluffed out and "permed" into a mane-like style. This style is always dyed either a dark brown or bright yellow, although orange is also seen from time to time. Some Lion's Pride members will dye the hair a dark russet brown with yellow highlights. This is meant to symbolize a Lion's mane an is always considered a Matsu's pride and joy. Many a duel to the death has been started when a Kakita made the mistake of mocking a Matsu's mane. Most information has been taken from Linda Larson's "A Young Samurai's Primer"

Mantis clan Clothing. It is difficult to talk about the families of the Mantis as if they are one entity. unlike the families of other clans, the Mantis have had only a fraction of the time it takes to integrate, and as united as they are, they still cling to their old styles. The Yoritomo: The Yoritomo lead a seafaring life. Typical kimonos are used in court, but frequently, they wear looser clothing that does not catch the wind and impede the wearer. Rather, they wear clothing that lets the wind flow through it. Additionally, lighter clothing absorbs less water. If one falls overboard, it's very difficult to swim and get out of the water if your clothing has quadrupled in weight due to absorbing water. Subsequently, such garb is also easily discarded and easily replaced. On the battlefield, they will as tradition dictates, the Yoritomo will don heavy armors. Their colors are range from Dark Greens to the Teal color of Rokugan's oceans to represent their heritage and traditions. A common accessory is the headbands. While it has become a joke that the headbands are the ancestral garb of the Mantis, there are practical reasons for headbands on the high seas. You'd know if you have long hair and have let it down in the wind. Hair whipping in your face is quite distracting, and the tangle it gets into is very problematic afterwards. The Tsuruchi: Traditional Tsuruchi garb involved the Black and Gold colors of the wasp. Since then, many Tsuruchi have found the Dark Greens of the Mantis to their liking as it aids in camoflauge. Traditional light armors are used to allow maximum flexibility and movement for the archer. A slow archer is a dead archer. Some traditionalist Tsuruchi wear their black and gold armbands to remind them of their founder. Simiarly, the Tsuruchi also seem to favor headbands. The topknot doesn't always keep the hair back, and having hair infront of your eyes can disturb your aim and disctract your concentration. The Moshi: The most tradition of the three families. These are the ones you will likely see in full armor, and fashionable kimonos. Though many Moshi have intertwined with the Yoritomo and those that do take to the seas adapt to a Yoritomo's garb. They wear the more moderate shade of Green typically.

Ahh, in that case: Most clans stick to their clan colors in formal situations. Crab Like: Blue, Black, Brick Red, and Dark Gray Crab Also Like: Wearing Armor to Court Functions Crane Like: Sky Blue, Silver, White, and Light Gray Crane Also Like: Wearing a pair of sashimono so that they look like wings. Dragon Like: Yellow and Green Dragon Also Like: Showing off a lot of (arm) flesh - especially if it's tattooed. Lion Like: Yellows, Reds, Browns, and Oranges (usually of the muted variety) Lion Also Like: Mantis Like: Green, Sea Green, Yellow, Orange, Gold and Black Mantis Also Like: Showing off a lot of (arm) flesh - usually to aid mobility. Phoenix Like: Yellows, Reds, and Oranges (usually of the flamboyant variety) Phoenix Also Like: Wearing a pair of sashimono so that they look like wings. Scorpion Like: Blood Red and Black Scorpion Also Like: Masks (although they've been known to wear pyjama's or other people's clothes) Unicorn Like: Purple, White, Gold, and Black Unicorn Also Like: Fur and Leather

Oh, don't tell me you're doing it again, this neglecting of the Imperials. Time to fix it, at least in shorthand; if you'd like longer, do let me know. Imperials typically dress in clothes appropriate to the archetypal idea of their functions. This means that Miya typically dress in rich, deep shades of brown (the better to hide the dust of travel) and wicker cloaks called horo; only Miya may wear this type of cloak, and it is the badge of their standing as shisha. Otomo dress in predominantly black (the color denoting mastery) patterned intricately with grey, possibly with green (often subtly snake-patterned) kimono under the haori and hakama; they will also typically either have fancy hats or shave their heads save for a braid at the back of their head, so as to give the impression of piety. Seppun dress in brown trimmed with green, though they, like Crab, like to wear armor at court (as they are usually guarding the court, this makes sense) unless they are actually running it that day; their clothing is ALWAYS clean, pressed, and of exquisite material though simple pattern and coloring (they eschew frivolity, though to appear in shabby clothing would insult their Emperor), the plates of their armor and the cords that bind them together are gleaming (polished/oiled and waxed, respectively), and their hair fixed in the traditional topknot. The Toturi dress however they ---- well please, but usually in the colors of the old Wolf Legion or in the green and gold of the Imperial Household. Well, not quite so shorthanded, but less exhaustive than that of the good Akira-san. May you derive much benefit from it.

Dragon Clan Clothing: Due to their Mountainous territory Dragon clothing tends to be heavier than that of their southern counterparts with an almost universal preference for praticality over style. Two and three layered kimono with hakama are usual, with the inner layers often being made of cotton, or even hemp, materials usually worn by the lower classes, instead of the more common (for samurai) silk. The outer garment is almost universally of the haori type altough court representatives often follow the current court fashion with some sobriety. This means that a Dragon courtier is more likely to style himself after Phoenix and Lion diplomats instead of the more flamboyant Crane and Scorpion representatives. Mon placement follows traditional practices on the chest. A small sized mon may also be placed on the back of the garment near the neck. Shugenja will wear the traditional priestly over-robe altough those of a more experimental bent may dress like bushi while working on their workshops or gathering reagents on slippery mountain slopes. The usual colors are the common and inexpensive gray, bright yellow, or deep green. Yellow with green trims and vice-versa is also seen. The tattooed monks usually wear drab, umarked, clothes similar to those of peasants with hakama or kobakama. One consequence of the harsh climate the Dragon live in is that they have been made much more resilient to cold and apt to shed clothing in warmer locations. Coupled with their pragmatism and this has meant that many a traditional samurai has been shocked by the lack of decorum of the "scantily clad" Dragon. Hairstyles: The traditional topknot is common altough the shaved tonsure is rare, with many of the younger Mirumoto even going as far as to use their hair on a even looser ponytail. On the other hand a fully shaved head, like a monk, is more common among Dragon samurai than anywhere else in the empire being sported even by females. When not shaved, female hair is usually worn long, arranged in a foxtail. Tattooed monks, like all monks, universally shave their heads. Dragon clansmen have also taken to imitate their monk brethren in tattooing their bodies. Dragon motiffs in green and yellow tones, including mons are the most commonly chosen drawings but copies of other mystic tattooes, or symbols of personal signifcance have also been seen. PS: Of course this has taken much inspiration from the young samurai primer.

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