Help Identity Our Mon.

[IJASWORDS]

As owners of military swords, many of us have swords with a family or clan mon. From time to time they are posted in different threads for identification. 

I would love to see a dedicated thread on the photographic recording of them and contributions from members who can identity the Mon. 

I have attached one such mon , which looks like three open fans that I would like identified . 

Hopefully it will encourage those knowledgeable on the subject to help us out . I tag and catalogue my swords with all the information I can find , including the mon.

If this thread is flagging , I will keep putting more up . 

[george trotter]

According to Hawley's book MON 1976 p.60 it seems to be a variation of the Hiogi (fan) mon. Only one family is given for it, the SUGAU...as yours is "smooth" rather than "slatted" it must be either an allied family or maybe just some family who invented it for themselves after c.1850s. You'll need to do more searching.

Regards,

[SteveM]

Yes, three fans (三つ扇), or in Japanese: mitsu ōgi.

 

Used by the Matsudaira and Igarashi families. Nice family crest. Somewhat unusual and rare, I think. 

 

https://kamon.myoji-yurai.net/kamonDetail.htm?kamonName=%E4%B8%89%E3%81%A4%E6%89%87

[PNSSHOGUN]

Yes, never seen that one before.

[IJASWORDS]

Thanks Steve and George , I will add the information to sword details . And gives me a great lead into more research .

[reeder]

Just adding mom to the thread, not that any of them are particularly rare.

[Guest]

Good morning Brandon

 

From the left:

 

Maru Ni Tsuta (Japanese Ivy within a circle)

 

Maru Ni Katabami (Creeping Wood Sorrel within a circle)

 

Maru Ni Go San Ni Sasa (Bamboo Leaves within a circle)

 

Kyumai Sasa (Bamboo Leaves)

 

Maru Ni Gashiwa (Daimyo Oak within a circle)

 

Maru Ni Hanare Ken Katabami (Creeping Wood Sorrel leaves and swords within a circle)

 

Maru Ni Shippo Hanabishi (Diamond shaped Water Chestnut  Leaves and Good luck symbol within a circle)

 

(Shippo originally a Buddhist term said to represent the seven treasures (Gold, Silver, Pearls, Agate, Crystal, Coral & Lapis Lazuli).

[PNSSHOGUN]

Good thread idea, nothing too unusual here. I have noticed on some Mons there is remnants of gold foiling, like mine pictured, has anyone found one with all the gold intact?

 

[Guest]

1st image from the left:

 

Maru Ni Yotsume or Maru Ni Yotsu Kuginuki

 

Kikkou Ni Umebachi

 

Maru Ni Tachibana

[IanB]

All,  I have always been fascinating by kamon and have a good selection of books on the subject, the majority of which do not attribute them to families for the simple reason that, unlike European heraldry which was regulated by the heralds, there was no official regulation of them. The only book I have managed to acquire is Seishi Kamon no Jiten which lists modern family names and the kamon they use.

Ian Bottomley

[IJASWORDS]

Malcolm , I can see that you will be an invaluable resource . 

So far only Shin Gunto examples posted . 

I will throw in some Kai Gunto examples , one of which is on the menuki. 

[IJASWORDS]

John just noticed that my Kai has the same mon as your Shin Gunto. One brother in the army an another the Navy ? 

[David Flynn]

As Ian has said, many families use the same mon.  I discovered this many years ago,  so now I don't even bother.  Unless the sword has a surrender tag, or other direct links to a family, all is speculation.

[cisco-san]

Good morning Brandon

 

From the left:

 

Maru Ni Tsuta (Japanese Ivy within a circle)

 

Maru Ni Katabami (Creeping Wood Sorrel within a circle)

 

Maru Ni Go San Ni Sasa (Bamboo Leaves within a circle)

 

Kyumai Sasa (Bamboo Leaves)

 

Maru Ni Gashiwa (Daimyo Oak within a circle)

 

Maru Ni Hanare Ken Katabami (Creeping Wood Sorrel leaves and swords within a circle)

 

Maru Ni Shippo Hanabishi (Diamond shaped Water Chestnut  Leaves and Good luck symbol within a circle)

 

(Shippo originally a Buddhist term said to represent the seven treasures (Gold, Silver, Pearls, Agate, Crystal, Coral & Lapis Lazuli).

Hello Brandon,

 

I have a similar mon but alway thought this is Mimura family.

But maybe as Divide wrote, many families used the same mon.

 

thanks

Klaus

 

 

[IJASWORDS]

David , I agree , my post was a tongue in cheek comment . 

My purpose of this thread was to identify the mons, as Malcolm has done admirably . 

[PNSSHOGUN]

John just noticed that my Kai has the same mon as your Shin Gunto. One brother in the army an another the Navy ? 

The first is a similar Mon to mine as well, how serendipitous.

[Guest]

Hi Neil

 

Image 1 is Maru Ni Hitotsu Chanomi (Tea Plant within a circle)

 

Image 2 is Maru Ni Yotsume or Maru Ni Yotsu Kuginuki as mentioned previously

 

Image 3 (Menuki) Looks like Maru Ni Katabami

 

Hi Klaus, yours is known as Maru Ni Hanare Ken Katabami the illustration of the Mimura Family Kamon is known as Ken Katabami

[reeder]

Wow, many thanks!

[cisco-san]

many thanks for clarification Malcom - highly appreciated!

[Bruce Pennington]

The only one I have. The guys said it was originally "Fujiwara", but today there are a number of names tied to it. It's on a kaigunto with a sharkskin saya and a mumei, 500 yr old blade.

[Bruce Pennington]

One that we see occasionally, this one from Chris' thread: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/29587-gunto-pedigree-id-requested/

[Bruce Pennington]

One from John's thread of a mon for Prince Asaka Yasuhiko, http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/29427-mint-condition/

[Guest]

Hi Bruce

 

Image 1 Menuki - Sagari Fuji / Huji ( Hanging Wisteria)

 

Image 2 Maru Ni Gosan Kiri (3 5 3 blossom Paulownia (Empress Tree) within a circle)

 

Image 3 (Prince Asaka Yasuhiko) Wow!!!, that's not in the books, so its going to be a compilation guess.

 

Working from the centre out, its a 16 petal Chrysanthemum - Jyuroku Giku /Kiku and 4 Tsuru (Vine Tendrils) flanked on the left and right by three leaf Daimyo Oak leaves Mitsu Gashiwa, the top and bottom have me stumped, overall in a Diamond lozenge shape Hishi gata.

 

So Hishigata Jyuroku Giku / Kiku Yotsu Tsuru Nozoki Mitsu Gashiwa and?  

 

I used Nozoki because the three leaves are "peeping"

 

 ....Steve M!!! 

 

The Emperor's Kamon is 16 petals and 16 tips  all other Imperial family and Shinto shrine variations are workings on this.

[george trotter]

I should put in a better pic of that kikumon shown on Bruce/John's post just above.

Families given in Hawley p.3 are non-royal families connected to the Imperial families. This "diamond" shape kiku is quite rare - Kimura, Nakamura, Toda families. Don't know how many used it in WWII.

Regards,

 

[Guest]

Hi George, it's known as Kiku Bishi

[SteveM]

The Prince Asaka Yasuhiko one is challenging.

For sure it is the kamon (or kashō - 家章) of the Higashikuni-no-miya branch of the Imperial family (something like the brother of the great-grandfather on the mother's side of the current emperor). I can find other references to this kamon on the web, but haven't yet found out what its called or how to describe it - except for the few sites that simply call it the Higashikuni-kiku mon. Given the complexity of the design, I'm inclined to think this may be the official name of the design. 

 

See the entry about 31 from the top here

https://ippongi.org/2009/01/12/kiku/

 

I think the leafs are chrysanthemum leaves, and I think the flowers on the top and bottom are side-view chrysanthemums. So that would make it "ha-tsuki" and "yoko-mi" (葉付き、横見) but already the name starts to become confusingly long. 

[Guest]

Hi Steve

 

You really are like the 7th Cavalry....

 

"I think the leafs are chrysanthemum leaves, and I think the flowers on the top and bottom are side-view chrysanthemums. So that would make it "ha-tsuki" and "yoko-mi" (葉付き、横見) but already the name starts to become confusingly long. "

 

I agree with you on the side leaves and I had a suspicion that the top and bottom were side views, but I wasn't sure what of. 

 

Now it makes perfect sense.

 

As Higashikuni Mon is used as a reference to the collateral branch of the Imperial family called the Higashikuni no Miya, granted to his half brother Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni in 1906 by the Emperor Meiji.

 

It raises the question, is the original listing on Buyee incorrect and should it be ascribed instead to Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni or his son Prince Morio Higashikuni?

 

https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/x639040421/detail

 

 

Also, for those with an interest, this page from Steve's excellent link shows some unusual Kamon and modern logo which have almost become Kamon in their own right, including that of the author of Kwaidan - Yakumo Koizumi (Lafcadio Hearn) and Professor Donald Keene:

 

https://ippongi.org/2011/12/22/%e5%89%b5%e4%bd%9c%e7%b4%8b%e3%80%80%ef%bc%8d%e5%ae%b6%e7%b4%8b%e3%81%ae%e8%87%aa%e7%94%b1%e3%81%95%e3%82%92%e6%9c%80%e5%a4%a7%e9%99%90%e3%81%ab%e7%94%9f%e3%81%8b%e3%81%97%e3%81%9f%e3%82%aa%e3%83%aa/

[Bryce]

G'day Guys,

Here are a couple of mine.

The first I think is called toyama umebachi. Haven't indentified the second yet.

Cheers,

Bryce

 

[Bruce Pennington]

How about "Ashikaga" or a derivative?

[Guest]

Hi Bryce

 

No 1 is known as Maru Ni Umebachi

 

No 2 is known as Maru Ni Futatsu Biki

 

Hi Bruce the one ascribed to Ashikaga in your illustration is a variant called Maru Ni Uhini Futatsu Biki (See how the two horizontal bars are separated from the circle).

 

http://gari.boo.jp/cafepress/cafepress_hikiryo.html