Mon (Japan)
Mon ( jap. 紋 , dt. "Sign, emblem") are Japanese symbols, similar to the coats of arms in heraldic usage in the western world, for a person or group, especially as a kamon ( 家 紋 , "family sign ") for families. Most Mon are monochrome and show the stylized representation of a plant or an animal in an outlined circle.
history
The emergence of Mons is sometimes put as early as the Asuka period (552–710). What is certain is that at the end of the Heian period in the 12th century , distinguished Japanese families ran Mons. In the following centuries, Mons were mainly used by the Japanese warrior nobility, as they were used as a symbol of identification in armed conflicts, similar to the coats of arms of the European Middle Ages.
From the middle of the Edo period (1603-1867), families of all classes began to buy Mons. At the same time it became fashionable to wear one's own Mon on kimonos . Today practically all Japanese families have a mon. Mons play only a minor role in everyday life, but are still used as house symbols and are sometimes integrated into company logos. In addition, Mons are shown for ceremonial occasions, particularly in the Japanese dead commemoration Obon (see below under another use ).
heraldry
Similar to coats of arms in Europe, there are family coats of arms ( kamon ) that are passed on over generations. If a neighboring house ( bunke or bekke ) branches off from a main house ( honke ) , the family coat of arms or a slightly changed coat of arms is transferred to the latter. The family relationships can be read from the heraldic elements used.
In addition to the main coat of arms of the house (kamon), however, there are also different types of secondary coats of arms (kaemon) that a person can carry. These can be modifications of the main coat of arms, which have been changed slightly so as not to conflict with the sovereign function of the house coat of arms. Some secondary coats of arms have been used by members of the family over generations.
While similar examples of the use of secondary coats of arms can still be found in European heraldry, the use of alternate coats of arms is difficult to compare: These Mon sometimes show completely different heraldic elements than the main coat of arms. They can be worn in addition to the main coat of arms, for example to honor the family-in-law with their coat of arms, or as a secret coat of arms for subdivisions that are not intended to be recognized by everyone, but are known to the house guards.
Most Mon are designed in one color. However, there are particularly splendid modifications that are designed in multiple colors or are accompanied by other figures and ribbons. Such ornate coats of arms ( kyomon and datemon ) are seldom found, however, as pomp is not welcome in public spaces. But one finds artfully designed secondary coats of arms in private use by two lovers.
As in Europe, there are legends about the origin of many coats of arms. And there are also a number of Mon, which are “talking coats of arms”, in which the sound of the symbols refers to the name of the bearer.
The order in which the heraldic elements are listed is highly schematic. This is also used to sort the images in coat of arms lists.
construction
A mon consists of a stylized representation, often a plant or animal, which is usually surrounded by a circle. In contrast to coats of arms, Mons are monochrome, mostly black and white. The mon of the Japanese emperor, the sixteen-petalled chrysanthemum, also serves as the national coat of arms (see also Imperial Seal ).
While the origin of the European coat of arms lies in the division, coloring and covering of a shield and only later found its way onto flags and clothing, Mons emerged the other way around. They are initially used as patches for clothing and as emblems on lanterns and flags. So the predominant shape was the circle, which was later provided with a border, which also simplifies the handling when sewing on prefabricated emblems.
Symbols are then introduced into this circle. A clear division is not typical; if several symbols appear, they are simply placed next to one another. A division in the base of the coat of arms is not necessary because a multi-colored background is not used. The figures placed on the table are also usually kept in one color, but in such a way that they are in contrast. This also made it possible to see them at great distances in the field.
Although the Mon often appear in a circle as a patch, the determining element is the symbol or a group of symbols tapering towards a center. On a number of occasions, the border may accordingly be omitted.
use
In order to understand the usage, it can be useful to know that the Chinese character Mon ( 紋 ) actually means "drawing, pattern" and is also understood in this basic meaning in many combinations. In modern Japanese, the word Mon ( 紋 ) is understood as a short form of heraldic terms, especially monshō ( 紋章 ), mondokoro ( 紋 所 ) and kamon ( kam 紋 ). However, other words for seals or patterns can also gain the meaning of hereditary symbols in certain combinations. A translation as "coat of arms" should be omitted, as this could easily arouse false associations in the West with the hereditary plaid patterns of the kilts of the Scottish clans , with which it has little in common due to its execution in stylized symbols (without any hatching or color). This shows the Japanese view of understanding the Mon more as a symbolic sign and emblem.
dress
The mon is traditionally worn in five places on clothing - on both sides of the chest, sleeves, and back. There are reports that in the early days there were individual Chinese characters in these places instead of pictorial symbols - in other places in Japan the family name is still often written with a single Chinese character, which is used in addition to the Japanese syllabary.
In the case of festive garments, however, the family sign ( kamon ) can also be used as a template for a pattern, not unlike the so-called “fur works” as a background pattern on European coats of arms. To loosen up, the secondary coats of arms and alternate coats of arms can also be included, possibly in other color variants, which in their striking splendor could only be worn on a few occasions, if at all.
Field and house symbols
Similar to the European coat of arms images, the Mon were integrated into all objects in the field , on flags, pennants, blankets and tents, but somewhat different to the European coat of arms, the Mon symbol also appears on helmets and other concurrent items of equipment. The simpler basic form simplifies the integration as a design pattern and seal of ownership on a wide variety of occasions. Since Mon are naturally monochrome, they could also be easily integrated into general papers without having to fulfill a sovereign function. Apart from the main functions, one also likes to take one of the secondary coats of arms - in the Japanese coat of arms lists several Mon are actually listed for many families, with the variants serving to differentiate the Mon of the prince from the Mon of the Hereditary Prince and the highest servants, so that the Secondary coats of arms are tied to the offices of the house.
In addition to being used in the troops, the family emblem is also often used for decoration in the house and yard, the family emblem is particularly often placed on the lanterns, but the design pattern can also appear on bedspreads and curtains. While the use as a field symbol has disappeared due to a lack of opportunity, house symbols are still common today - for example, many sushi restaurants around the world include a mon in the design of their rooms and menu cards . In contrast to the European use in stamps, however, there is no use as an official seal or personal seal ( Hanko 判 子 ); Chinese characters of the seal script are still used there.
Mon in the west
Especially with followers of Japanese martial arts one can occasionally find Mon of more or less well-known Japanese families, possibly also that of their own teacher, on the clothing. However, the Japanese feel that this is inappropriate. There are fewer reservations about invented, own Mon.
Prefectural and municipal coats of arms
The municipalities and prefectures of Japan also lead Monshō. In the modern age, these were increasingly designed in color - in contrast to European use, here it is often just one color, which can be freely selected from the color spectrum. In the case of municipalities, this also determines the municipality color. In modern times, these Monshō are also drawn in the manner of city logos, as they are created in European cities parallel to the historical coats of arms and thereby follow current city politics - these city logos are usually exempt from the rules of heraldic design traditions. Whether a traditional city coat of arms or a fashionable city logo is also integrated into the official documents is handled differently in Japan and Europe.
See also
literature
- Hugo Gerard Ströhl : Japanese book of arms "Nihon Moncho". A handbook for craftspeople and collectors. Schroll, Vienna 1906 (Newly edited and edited by Wolfgang Ettig. (= Monographs on the art and cultural history of Japan. Vol. 4). Tengu Publishing Wolfgang Ettig, Schmitten / Ts. 2006, ISBN 3-924862-12-5 ).
- Phillips, David F. (ed.): Japanese Heraldry and Heraldic Flags (= The Flag Heritage Foundation Monograph and Translation Series, Publ. No. 7) , Flag Heritage Foundation, Danvers, MA 2018, 160 p., Color f. u. numerous bw. figs., ISBN 978-1-4507-2436-4 (Including Understanding Japanese Heraldry by David F. Phillips, Japanese Heraldry, Battle Flags and Standards in the Age of Samurai by Emmanuel Valerio, and Heraldic Devices on Modern Japanese Flags by Nozomi Kariyasu)
Web links
- “Japanese coat of arms” by Rudolf Lange (1850–1933), in: Mittheilungen the Seminar for Oriental Languages at the Royal Friedrich Wilhelms-Universität zu Berlin , 1903, pp. 63–281.
- Japan Crest free material hakkodaiodo - Detailed commentary on Japanese kamon and a list of images. Free material is eps format. (In Japanese)