| Prologue | Japanese History | Japanese Structure |
| European History | European Structure |

The concept of the Family Crest in Japan is still alive today, although its identified history goes far back to the beginning of the 12th century.  Generally, the Family Crest in Japan is called KA-MON, KA means "family with own genealogical trees" and MON means "crest" or "emblem".

Similarly, in European history, the concept of Heraldry and use of unique Shield of Arms or Coat of Arms also existed, with its history tracing back to a similar period in the 12th century.

The similarities between the two have triggered my interest to further investigate and compare the history of the Family Crest in both cultures.  I recognized that both the Japanese Ka-Mon Family Crest and European Shield of Arms/Coat of Arms possess unique and diverse characteristics that cannot be described with generalized explanations.  However, in the following section, I will refer to both as Family Crests and describe various points of interest.

First of all, I would like to show my own family crest that is called Mokkou, which is a name used for the cucumber family.  Particularly, the symbol represents a cross section of a cucumber with an outside ring added.

I am very familiar with this symbol since my childhood when my father wore his formal Kimono for various ceremonies. I saw our family crest on the center of the back shoulder and both sleeves of his Kimono.  The crest was also hand painted on the surface of lanterns that hung at the entrance of my house when we cerebrated the Obon festival, which is the Japanese ancestral memorial day.

By using the family crest on many occasions, the particular family is easily distinguished from others.  In certain cases; however, a wife is allowed to wear her own family crest that belongs to her father's family. By doing so, she would be representing the origin of her own family.  In such cases, the size of the emblem was traditionally smaller than that of her husband's.  The family crest is typically carried on by the genealogical male.  In some cases, the eldest male carries the original crest while the younger male(s) use(s) a modified version of the original, but quite often, all male family members use the same family crest.

The oldest recognized family crest in Japanese history was found in 1100, when the noble class, called Kuge, who served the Emperor started to use symbolized designs of flora, plants and other designs on their belongings such as carts, chests, furniture, and clothing.  In these early days, I am sure that only a limited number of people of the upper class used such markings and these were easily distinguishable.

As local lords, Bushi, started to gain more power by the end of the 12th century, Japan went into an era of battle.  As similar necessity arose in European history on the battle field, markings or symbols became much more important to distinguish enemies from allies. Emblems on a flag or banner played an important role in distinguishing enemies; however, the same emblem also appeared on arms, armors, helmets, saddles and a variety of items.  The more local lords existed, the more emblems were created.

When Tokugawa Shogunate accomplished to control nation wide at the beginning of the 17th century, all battles ended and peace came back.  People enjoyed the peaceful life and created unique culture during this 265 years called Edo period.  In these years, family crest spread among many people as an identity of families.  Traditions were formed in Edo period in Japanese heraldry and some of them have been passed to modern life, although the degree and interest are much lower than that period.

In the European history of Heraldry, it was controlled and registered as family owned pattern.  However, in Japanese history, there was no such legal control but was a control with people's mind such as respecting others.  For instance, Emperor's crest has been 16 petalled chrysanthemum flower and no other family used nor modified long time.  Couple of exceptions in the history that Masashige Kusunoki in the 14th century received the permission to use modified 16 petalled chrysanthemum flower as his family crest due to his important dedication to support Emperor Godaigo.  In Edo period under Tokugawa Shogunate, family crest became so popular that some started to use the 16 petalled chrysanthemum, and Meiji government ruled that chrysanthemum is only to be used by the Emperor.  Other case known was Takamori Saigo in the 19th century who got special approval to use it from Meiji Emperor.

As a motif of design, flowers, trees, plants, birds are very popular, and other interesting ones such as vegetables, animals and lucky subjects are observed.  The motif in Japanese Family Crest and European emblem is quite different.  European style typically symbolizes strong animals such as lions, leopards and eagles in a shield along with a crest, a helmet, supporters, furs, and mottoes.  This difference gives me very interesting view point between two cultures.

Following crests are examples of motifs, from the left to right, Pink Flower, Hollyhock, Faced Cranes, Mustang and Wooden Wheel.

Pink	Hollyhock	Crane	Mustang	Wheel

Recognized Family Crests in Japan are reported with more than 10,000 patterns, however, there are several basic ways in designing or modifying original one for expressing heritage in genealogy.  This means that when second or third son in the family married and establishes his own family, often he modifies his father's crest showing his heritage and differentiation.  Of cause, the first son carries the original from his father.  The creation would come with 1) Original design, 2) Modifying original, 3) Placing ring or square around, 4) Adding originals together, 5) Combining with different originals, 6) Combining with different crests.  By doing so, our ancestors created variety of patterns in the history.

Some example of variations are shown below.  From left to right, original Igeta Well Crib, modified with a ring and an angular ring, 2 Igetas added, and 3 Igetas stacked. With this way, the heritage is clearly shown, however, differentiation is achieved.

Igeta, original	Igeta with a ring	Igeta with an angular ring	Compounded Igeta	Stacked Igeta

I would like to show you more family crest patterns.  Many of patterns show very good sense in design with simplified yet crisp.  Simple design is good not only for instant identification in battle field but also for daily use in life.  Particularly, in modern age, the good sense of design has much value for daily use.

From the left, Compounded squares, Orange tree and blossom, Oak leaves with wavy peripheral, Flying geese, and Cloves.  In the next row from the left, Hoke feathers, Water grass and flower, Ginkgo leaves, Leaves and Arrow feathers.

Compounded Squares	Orange Tree	Oak Leaves	Geese	Clove

Hoke feather	Water grass	Ginkgo leaves	Leaves	Arrow feather

Now, let's look in the European version of Family Crest.

The European family crest, particularly, the origin of Shield of Arms has been identified in the early 12th century in England.  In the 11th and 12th century, common tactic of battle was grouped cavalry charge with lance and shield into enemy once and if it did not break enemies away, then knights went into combat with hand to hand.  Because of massive hand combats, often it was necessary to identify combatants with clear symbol mark.  Some other argument is that such emblem was used before William the Conquer in the northwestern Europe and it was brought with the conquer into England.

Regardless these arguments, while the tournament started in France and became popular in many areas among Europe, challenging knights were recognized with the coat of arms, and ruling families were recognized with specific shield of arms and often they were used as a seal of important document being sent to others that was the origin of family crest.

In Europe particularly, in order to control the ownership of shield of arms, the authority was established for marshaling and registration in many countries.  With each uniqueness in each country, however, there was a certain control mechanism existed that was a major difference from Japanese family crest.  This point, in my opinion, is major cultural difference between Japan and Europe.

The each family passed their family crest with male descendants in the case of England, and the particular symbol mark was marshaled and registered.  For this purpose in England, the College of Arms was developed and remains a vigorous institution.

Since European family crest was controled by an authority in history, there was certain rule established in the structure.  It is the time that I have to mention on my generalized term of [Family Crest] that is not correct in use, particularly, in this section.  The [Crest] needs to be used in the specific meaning for expressing the element that sits on top of the Helm with the Wreath in many cases .  Basic elements in the arms are the Crest that sits at the top of arms, the Wreath typically exists under the Crest, the Helmet sits just above the Shield, the Shield of cause the major element of the heraldry, and other elements such as Mantle, Supporters and Motto in the Badge are attached as the complete set of elements.  Please look at following element explanation.

The Shield is the main portion of the heraldry, and the outlined shape of shield itself does not have many variations, however, the design inside of shield varies.  In history, there was a written explanation of a design of arms existed, and the officially written description of the shield of arms is called the Blazon of Arms that is a system of code for describing dedicated colors, placement and styling.  As many years passed by, it is natural that the design of pattern in the shield increased with many divided spaces and different elements that probably showing the history of a family, relationship with others, strong wishes and so on.  This made a blazon of arms became more complicated.

Since the Crest sits at the top of arms, people often see that it is the main body of the arms but it is not, and for instance, many french style of symbols do not have one.

The Supporters are often beasts, birds, monsters, human, or other shapes, and they stand both side of shield of arms by supporting it.

I would like to show you examples of shield of arms in the 15th century that I borrowed from The Oxford Guide to Heraldry by Thomas Woodcock and John Martin Robinson, Oxford University Press.

As a typical example, Windsor Herald is shown below that came from the same book mentioned above.  This is almost fully decorated in accordance with the Blazon of Arms.

There was individual uniqueness in the heraldry in European countries.  For instance in Germany, multiple crests were observed in the arms, however, in France, virtually no crest existed.

Return to Index Page.