Nr 3047 - "nadeshiko" the pink carnation blossom…...thanks David, mon at large and at its best!
Guy, thanks for your contributions. Can you enlighten us on the rules of interitance of Japanese Mons or Kamons? Can anybody adobt a mon in Japan? What are the "laws of arms" in Japan?
Here are some more mons in use:
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/Kelisli/Japanese_Mon_Ginger_flowers.jpg
A kamon that consists of two ginger blossoms.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/Kelisli/Japanese_Mon_20.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/Kelisli/Japanese_Mon_Ayako_family.jpg
Ayako Kamon
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/Kelisli/Japanese_Mon_28.jpg
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/Kelisli/Japanese_Kamon_oda.jpg
Example of a free standing mon
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/Kelisli/Japanese_Imperial_Mon.jpg
A Crysanthemum Mon on a roundel (I don’t think it is the imperial one as it has only one row of pertals or florets)
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/Kelisli/Japanese_Carved_Mon.jpg
A wood carving of a free standing mon
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/Kelisli/Japanese_Mon_24.jpg
Two photographs of sword guards bearing ka-mons known in Japanese as tsuba.
http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/2955/monsukashimuromachiaq7.jpg
Sukashi Muromachi Mon
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/3749/kagazogankirimonwk2.jpg
Kagazogan Kiri Mon
These were fascinating and enjoyable to look through, don’t hesitate to post more! 
——GH
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/Kelisli/Doors_Kayasan_Buddhist_Temple_Littl.jpg
Paulownia Mon on the doors to the Kayasan Buddhist Temple, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/Kelisli/Japanese_Mons_1.jpg
A collection of Japanese kamons.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/Kelisli/Japanese_Mon_Toikugawa.jpg
Toikugawa kamon on an unidentified artifact.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/Kelisli/Japanese_Mon_Manhole.jpg
A Japanese mon on a manhole.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/Kelisli/Japanese_Mon_Imperial_Crysanthemum.jpg
The Imperial kamon (the imperial Crysanthemum). This is very similar to the emperor’s crest at the St George’s chapel at Windsor Castle.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/Kelisli/Japanese_Mon_Car_door.jpg
A mon on the door of a car. An interesting use of mons.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/Kelisli/Japanese_Mon_Admiral_Togo.jpg
The kamon of the Japanese Admiral Togo, of the Russo-Japanese war.
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/Kelisli/Japanese_Mon_33.jpg
A beautful example of a mon embroiderd in gold thread.
<div class=“bbcode_center” >
More examples of Japanese ka-mon.
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2391/img2945jc4.jpg
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/9505/img2950nk0.jpg
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/1197/img2942ue1.jpg
</div>
http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t11/Kelisli/Japanese_Mon_Admiral_Togo.jpg
It is extremely interesting to note the Imperial mon, featured in the mon of Admiral Togo, seems almost like an augumentation of honour. What is that gold object it is on? A button, seal?
I am not sure that the Imperial crysanthemum is an augmentation or what. The crysanthemum appearse in many kamons. I have no knowledge of the rules of Japanese heraldry.
As for your question about the actual kamon, I am not sure of the material, but it is on the walls of Admiral Togo’s temple.
I found some information on Japanese kamons at the following URL:
http://www.japanusencounters.net/mon/
Below is the text from that web site:
Prologue
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.
History of Japanese Family Crest, Ka-Mon
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.
Structure of Japanese Family Crest
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.
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 course, 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.
All these marvelous and very elegant examples of Japanese mons made me want to make one for myself, so I did!
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c93/mohamedhossam/Palm-Tree-KaMon2-1.gif
That is a palm tree, in case it’s not immediately obvious. :D
I made it "planted" in the ground for various reasons, among them being the family tradition of my grandfather planting a palm tree in front of our house, and also that my family has roots as farmers in Upper Egypt where cultivation of date palms is common, asides from the fact that its one of my favorite trees. I wonder if such a combination of Middle and Far Eastern has ever been previously attempted!
Cheers,
