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.
February 2008
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.
January 2008
Minamoto, descended from the Emperor Seiwa, were also known as the Seiwa-Genji.
Three families of Shogun (Minamoto, Ashigawa, & Tokugawa) descended from the clan.
December 2007
Matsuura - A Hizen Daimyo family whose heritage is shrouded in confusion.
Either they descended from the Yoritomo family or the Minamoto family.
November 2007
Matsudaira - Related to the Tokugawa and descended from Yasuchia.
October 2007
Makino - Descended from Takechi-uchi no Sukune, this Daimyo family came from Nikawa.
September 2007
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
August 2007
"Swift as the wind
Silent as the forest
Fierce as a fire
Steady as a Mountain"
Takeda Shingen (1521-1573)
July 2007
Maeda – Descended from Sugawara Michizane, this family of Daimyo came from Owari.
June 2007
Takatsugu: Eldest branch of Kyōgoku family of Daimyo descended from Uda-Genji
May 2007
Kuroda: Family of Daimyo descended from Uda-Genji through the Sasaki Family of Ōmi
April 2007
"Kuga - A family of Nobles descended from Kwammu-tennō"