A Mon is a crest or emblem. Historically in Japan, Mon have been used to acknowledge membership in various families, or clans. On the battlefield, Mon were used to identify individuals or units. Even in modern Japan, family crests or 'Ka-mon' are still highly prized and used today. This page will be used to display various historical Mon with a brief description of their origins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mizuno. A clan formerly known as Mitsumasa. This Daimyo family was descended from Tsunemoto (Seiwa-Genji).

Mizuno, Tadamasa's daughter was the mother of Tokugawa, Ieyasu.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minamoto, descended from the Emperor Seiwa, were also known as the Seiwa-Genji.

Three families of Shogun (Minamoto, Ashigawa, & Tokugawa) descended from the clan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matsuura - A Hizen Daimyo family whose heritage is shrouded in confusion.

Either they descended from the Yoritomo family or the Minamoto family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matsudaira - Related to the Tokugawa and descended from Yasuchia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Makino - Descended from Takechi-uchi no Sukune, this Daimyo family came from Nikawa.

 

 

 

 

 

Hawk Feathers (Takaha)

The art of falconry was highly esteemed among the warrior class. The hawk was admired for its fierce, powerful appearance. During the Medieval period, the wearing of the decoration of two hawk feathers on both sides of the Murai-kan, the formal cap, was a privilege reserved for military officers.

Mon, The Japanese Family Crest

By William Hawley, 1976

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Swift as the wind

Silent as the forest

Fierce as a fire

Steady as a Mountain"

Takeda Shingen (1521-1573)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maeda – Descended from Sugawara Michizane, this family of Daimyo came from Owari.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Takatsugu: Eldest branch of Kyōgoku family of Daimyo descended from Uda-Genji

 

 

 

 

 

Kuroda: Family of Daimyo descended from Uda-Genji through the Sasaki Family of Ōmi

 

 

 

 

 

"Kuga - A family of Nobles descended from Kwammu-tennō"