Mon / Kamon (Family Crest)

  Mon, also monsho, mondokoro, or kamon, are Japanese family heraldic symbols. Mon refers to any symbol, while kamon and mondokoro refer specifically to family symbols. Mon are sometimes called "badges", "crests" or "family crests" in English.







  A mon consists of a roundel encircling a design (such as feathers, flowers, or some man-made object). They are somewhat like coats of arms in that they are either associated with a particular clan or family, or an individual who has achieved some variety of public recognition. The designs are usually stylised versions of traditional Japanese themes, such as bamboo. Artists may choose something symbolising their art; a fan design might be chosen by a geisha. A woman may still wear her maiden mon if she wishes and pass them on to her daughters; a woman does not have to adopt her husband's or father's mon. Mon add formality to a kimono. A kimono may have one or three or five mon. The mon themselves can be more or less formal, the more the mon stands out the more formal it is. This may help dress up or dress down the formality of a kimono at the wearer's discretion.







  In the dress of the ruling class, the mon could be found on the kimono on both sides of the chest, on both sleeves, and in the middle of the back. On the armour, it could be found on the kabuto (helmet), on the do (cuirass), flags, and various other places. Mon could also be found on coffers, tents, fans, and many other items of importance.

  Virtually all modern Japanese families have a mon, though modern usage is rare. Individuals, instead, use an inkan for official purposes and business transactions. Mon, however, can still be seen widely on stores and shops engaged in traditional crafts and specialities. Some sushi restaurants incorporate a mon into their logo, while mon designs can be seen on the ceramic roof tiles of older houses. Mon designs also frequently appear on senbei, sake, tofu, and other packaging for foodstuffs to lend them an air of elegance and refinement. The paulownia mon appears on the obverse side of a 500 yen coin.

Reprint from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mon_%28badge%29
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