Abumi (鐙), Japanesestirrups, were used in Japan as early as the 5th century, and were a necessary component along with theJapanese saddle (kura) for the use ofhorses in warfare. Abumi became the type of stirrup used by thesamurai class of feudal Japan.

Early abumi were flat-bottomed rings of metal-covered wood, similar to European stirrups. The earliest known examples were excavated from tombs. Cup-shaped stirrups (tsubo abumi) that enclosed the front half of the rider's foot eventually replaced the earlier design.^[1][2]

During theNara period, the base of the stirrup which supported the rider's sole was elongated past the toe cup. This half-tongued style of stirrup (hanshita abumi) remained in use until the lateHeian period (794 to 1185) when a new stirrup was developed. Thefukuro abumi ormusashi abumi had a base that extended the full length of the rider's foot and the right and left sides of the toe cup were removed. The open sides were designed to prevent the rider from catching a foot in the stirrup and being dragged.^[1]

The military version of this open-sided stirrup, called theshitanaga abumi, was in use by the middle Heian period. It was thinner, had a deeper toe pocket and an even longer and flatter foot shelf. It is not known why the Japanese developed this unique style of stirrup, but this stirrup stayed in use until European style-stirrups were introduced in the late 19th century.^[1] Theabumi had a distinctive swan-like shape, curved up and backward at the front so as to bring the loop for the leather strap over the instep and achieve a correct balance. Most of the surviving specimens from this period are made entirely of iron,inlaid with designs of silver or other materials, and covered withlacquer. In some cases, there is an iron rod from the loop to the footplate near the heel to prevent the foot from slipping out. The footplates are occasionallyperforated to let out water when crossing rivers, and these types are calledsuiba abumi. There are also abumi with holes in the front forming sockets for alance orbanner.^[3][4]

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  Ancient Japanese stirrups (tsubo abumi), Iron, Kofun period, possibly 5th or 6th century, Tokyo National Museum
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  Ancient Japanese stirrups (tsubo abumi), Met museum
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  Abumi in use with a Japanese saddle (kura)
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