Family Crests of the Shimadzu Clan

Used to represent surnames or titles, kamon (Japanese family crests) were originally patterns used on the clothes and palanquins of court nobles during the Heian period (794-1185).

Each family eventually decided on a preferred motif and by the Kamakura period (1185-1333) kamon were being used as symbols to represent each family name. Kamon found their way onto clothing, armour, weaponry, flags, tents, and equipment and became a symbol of status and fashion among the burgeoning warrior class.

The cross in a circle motif is instantly recognizable all over Japan as the crest of the Shimadzu family, but initially the design consisted only of two simple brush strokes and was used from the Kamakura period until the start of the Edo period (1603-1868).

There are a few explanations for the origin of the cross motif, but no definite proof as to which is true.

The first is that the design represents two dragons crossing in flight. Nobori ryu (climbing dragon) and kudari ryu (diving dragon) are fairly common good luck symbols in both China and Japan.

The second is that during the Battle of Oshu in 1189 Minamoto no Yoritomo took two chopsticks and made a cross out of them, telling the founder of the Shimadzu family, Koremune Tadahisa to take it as his kamon.

The last explanation is that during the Kamakura period a Chinese custom in which drawing a cross to ward off disaster and invite happiness became popular. This was taken up by the Shimadzu family and used as their kamon.

In 1549 Christian missionary Francisco Xavier visited Kagoshima and had an audience with the 15th head of the Shimadzu family, Takahisa. Xavier was surprised to see the cross motif and later wrote “the crest of the lord of Kagoshima is that of a crucifix, yet he has never heard of Christ”.

From the late Momoyama period (1568-1600) onwards the brushed cross motif began to be presented in a circle, and by the early Edo period the shape had morphed into the cross in a circle crest. The exact reason for this change is not clear, but it is likely that the brushed cross motif seemed more combative, and a gentler more refined image was needed for the peacetime of the Edo period. Alternatively, the style of presenting kamon in a circle may have been a fashionable trend at the time. It is unlikely that the Shimadzu clan decided to change the design because they were worried about being mistaken for being Christian as some sources suggest.

The cross in a circle crest can be seen all over Kagoshima even today, and is used on products, logos, shop signs, and even manhole covers showing its significance as a symbol not only of the Shimadzu family, but also the Satsuma domain.

In addition to the cross in a circle, the Shimadzu family also used two additional kamon, the botan-mon (peony) and the kiri-mon (paulownia).

The botan-mon was initially used by the influential Konoe family, a branch house of the Fujiwara clan. Only houses with marital ties to the Konoe family could use this crest, and illustrious houses such as the Kozuke, Matsudaira, Date, and Tsugaru families all used the botan-mon during the Edo period.

The Shimadzu ties with the Konoe family stretch all the way back to Tadahisa, founder of the Shimadzu family. Tadahisa was promoted from a comparatively minor position to govern the largest landholding in Japan (the area including present day Kagoshima), land which was initially owned by the Konoe family.

From the Kamakura period (1185-1333) onward the two families kept a close relationship, and the Shimadzu used the Fujiwara name up until the early Edo period. Four daughters of the Shimadzu family were also married into the Konoe family during the Edo period, strengthening their relationship even further.

Due to this close relationship the Shimadzu family have been allowed to use the kamon of the Konoe family since the time of Tadahisa.

At first the Konoe family took some exception to exactly the same design being used, and a differently shaped Shimadzu botan-mon was created, however towards the end of the Edo period the use of the Konoe family botan-mon was granted.

Since ancient times the paulownia tree has been highly valued as the place where the mythical Fenghuang bird (Chinese phoenix) comes to roost.

The kiri-mon takes the shape of the leaves and flowers of the paulownia tree, and was used by the imperial court in the Kamakura period. There are several variations of this crest, with the commonplace version having an arrangement of 3-5-3 flowers on top, and the highest-ranking version featuring a 5-7-5 arrangement. Ashikaga Takauji and Toyotomi Hideyoshi were granted the use of this kamon. In turn the Ashikaga shogunate and Hideyoshi granted use of this kamon to retainers who had served them well, so many warrior families across Japan came to use the motif.

Again, the kiri-mon is said to have been bestowed on the Shimadzu Tadahisa by the Konoe family, but no detailed information exists as to why this happened.

The kiri-mon is used as the official symbol for the Prime Minister of Japan today, and is still a symbol of status and high office.

There are literally hundreds of Japanese kamon designs, and aside from the Imperial chrysanthemum crest and the paulownia crest there are few limitations on their usage, though it would be seen as bad etiquette to use a famous family crest as your own without permission.

There are also no particular rules about changing your kamon or having to adopt a kamon after marriage. Some Japanese families have used the same kamon design for generations, while many others chose their own designs in the Meiji period when even commoner families were allowed to use them.

Why not have a look for your own kamon or even design a new one on your next trip to Japan?

Here at Sengan-en you can even choose your own design at the Sengan-en Brand Shop and have it laser etched into a piece of 1,000-year-old Yakushima cedar for a great souvenir of your visit to Japan.