http://www.tokyotrad.com/ebay/kamon_explain.htm
Kamon (family crest) are Japanese heraldic symbols.
In Europe, only the privileged classes were allowed having the crest. On the other hand, every family have Kamon regardless of position in Japan. And every Kamon have meaning. 5,116 kinds of Kamon are confirmed now.
The History :
The roots of Kamon is noble class in Heian period. They put a mark on their oxcart to distinguish between own family and others.
When Samurai appeared on Japanese history, then Kamon were used as a mark to distinguish between own troops and others. At that time, the number of Kamon was increased, because Samurai used some kinds of Kamon between public and private matters.
Tokugawa Ieyasu appointed to Shogun in A.D. 1603, Edo period began.
Edo administration ordered common people not to use family name. From that reason, Kamon was needed to distinguish between own family and others among people. So the number of Kamon was increased more.
In A.D. 1868, the class system was abolished by modernization, everybody allowed using family name again. However the culture of Kamon have stayed alive to the present. You can see kamon at ceremonial occasions or tomb stone in Japan.
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Some more information on Kamon is available here:
http://pingmag.jp/2007/10/25/animal-kamon-design/
My own family crest is the two falcon feathers crossing, Takanoha(鷹の羽)
(I'm glad my family got a cool one!)
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