Ancient Japanese Family Crest Symbols
Kuge families also had used their family name kamei 家名 for the same purpose.
Ancient japanese family crest symbols. Unlike in europe where family crests were used to distinguish nobility from commoners japan s family crests kamon were not only exclusive to noblemen. Historically kamon was created about 900 years ago when japan was in the age of heian. Japanese unique emblem system the term kamon refers to a crest used in japan to indicate one s origins. Japanese family crests 1 pinterest.
Dec 4 2019 samurai crests is a piece of digital artwork by zapista ou which was uploaded on december 4th 2019. Crests played a large role in wartime as they were used on banners shields and tents of armies to mark their loyalty. Kamon represents each japanese family crest. It is also referred to simply as mondokoro or mon.
They originated in aristocratic and feudal society in japan s history but they can still be seen today in ceremonial uses such as weddings and funerals. He plays a largely ceremonial part in the life of the nation. Examples of emblems of famous samurai families from the sengoku period. Mon 紋 also monshō 紋章 mondokoro 紋所 and kamon 家紋 are japanese emblems used to decorate and identify an individual a family or more recently an institution or business entity.
The family crest right is the kiku or chrysanthemum. While mon is an encompassing term that may refer to any such device kamon and mondokoro refer specifically to emblems used to identify a family. The digital art may be purchased as wall art home decor apparel phone cases greeting cards and more. Kamon are often referred to as family crests which are european heraldic device similar to the kamon in function but it is different in many ways.
All products are produced on demand and shipped worldwide within 2 3 business days. The crests often use natural motifs as symbols. The chrysanthemum and paulownia flowers became symbols of the imperial house. These kamon symbols are often used for things like grave gate or costume.
Although the kamon was exclusive only to nobility during the eighth century it then became a symbol of identity or ownership of samurai warriors during the edo period 1603 1867. There are more than 3 000 different family crests in japan. Considered a divine being until the end of world war ii the postwar constitution made him the symbol of the state. It is said that there are more than 20 000 distinct individual kamon in japan.
That is one s family lineage blood line ancestry and status from ancient times. You can see what the family crests of famous samurai looked like in ancient japan on another post i wrote. Each kamon represents a flower animal building or letters. From the late ancient era onward the family name myōji 苗字 or 名字 had been commonly used by samurai to denote their family line instead of the name of the ancient clan that the family line belongs to uji na 氏名 or honsei 本姓 which was used only in the official records in the imperial court.
The role of the emperor and occasionally the empress there have been 8 to date has varied in importance. Traditional motifs and designs. In peacetime crests became largely.