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Heraldry in Japan developed separately from that of Europe, but essential elements of heraldry apply - bold images used as abstract symbols of their owners, warrior caste aristocrats of a feudal society. The Japanese familial crests, called mon, share elements of form and the element of heredity with European coats of arms (often misleadingly termed "family crests"). Heraldic bearings were also displayed on banners, as in European heraldry, but were not typically displayed on shields in Japan. While the development of heraldry in Europe and Japan may be seen as separate but parallel, there are also several profound differences between the notions, forms and uses of heraldry in Japan and those in Europe.

Mon

The familial crests, called mon, were linked to the warrior classes, and often took the form of weapons or other symbols representing bravery and longevity. These crests, as hereditary symbols of families, also acted as "boundary-maintaining mechanisms", i.e., "symbols that establish a common social identity among those privileged to employ them." Perhaps owing partly to the frequent occurrence of homophones in the Japanese language, Japanese heraldic bearings often exploited visual plays upon words (like European canting arms); e.g., the chestnut was adopted as a Japanese mon because kachi kuri (dried chestnut) is a homophone for "victory" (kachi).

Heraldic banners

Japanese heraldic flags include:

• Fūrinkazan
• Hata-jirushi
• Nobori
• Sashimono
• Uma-jirushi

References

• Baird, Merrily (2001). Symbols of Japan: Thematic Motifs in Art and Design. New York: Rizzoli International Publications. ISBN 084782361X.
• Turnbull, Stephen (2002). Samurai Heraldry. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1841763047.