家紋に込められた意味 Family Crests: More than Meets the Eye

＊この記事も元々「Pen」雑誌の2009年の9月号に掲載された記事です。英文は数年前に拙僧が翻訳したものです。また、記事の最後にある注釈は拙僧が作成したものです。

This article originally featured in the September 2009 issue of the Japanese magazine “Pen”. The English is a translation I did a few years back. I also wrote the footnotes at the end of the article. 

現代ではあまり意識すろこともない家紋。だが、戦国時代にあっては生死を分かつほどの重要性をもっていた。その美しい意匠の成り立ちを探る。

One rarely notices traditional family crests in modern-day Japan. However, family crests were literally a matter of life and death during the Sengoku (Warring States) period. In this, family crests are to be appreciated for far more than their aesthetic value.

真田家の家紋：六文銭

Sanada Clan Family Crest: Roku-mon sen (Six Pence)

 六文銭は仏教の世界でいう「六道銭」のこと。死んで三途の川を渡る時の渡し賃を意味した。真田氏は死をも厭わぬ決意で望んでいたことを示す。拙僧はうちの結婚式で羽織にこの家紋を付けて頂きました。

The six mon (pence) is a reference to the six coins placed on caskets of the dead in a Buddhist context, equal to the price of passage across the Sanzu (Styx) River. This family crest symbolized the Sanada clan’s resolve, unshaken even in the face of death. I chose to have this family crest put on my kimono for our wedding ceremony.

現代人にとって「家紋」とは、結婚式披露宴や葬式で和装する時くらいしか意識しないのではないでしょうか。家紋のルーツをたどると、だいたい平安時代中期まで遡ることが出来る。もとは公家が牛車などに、自家の標識として採用したものであったという説が有力である。しかし、平安時代末期になると、保元の乱・平治の乱などが打ち続き、敵味方の区別をつけることや、戦場での活躍を示すための証明が必要になった。そこで、独自の図像を作成し、旗などにあしらったのが、武士の家紋のルーツといわれている。
For most people in Japan today, family crests aren’t really a part of their daily lives. The only time one may catch a glimpse of these traditional symbols is at a wedding or maybe a funeral. When one examines the history of these symbols, one discovers that family crests have been in use since the Heian period*1 (794-1185). Scholars believe that family crests were first adopted by nobles, and used on their ox carts as a way of identifying themselves (a nice analogy would be imagining a glorified business card or logo). However, with the outbreak of the Hogen revolt in 1156*2, the Heian period gave way to an age of civil war and social unrest, with the capital and much of the country transformed into a battlefield. In order to tell friend from foe, as well as provide proof of one’s exploits in battle, a “badge” to identify oneself was needed. Thus, many samurai set about to creating their own unique design and using this insignia on their own personal battle flags. This marks the beginning of family crests as we know (in Japan at least). 

戦国大名の権威を表し、家の格を示すシンボル
A symbol of Sengoku daimyo (lord) authority and family status

南北朝期から室町期にかけては一族・庶子であっても家紋をもち、爆発的にその数が増えた。そのために、「見聞諸家紋」という家紋を集成した書物が作られ、武士たちには群雄の家紋を識別する能力が求められた。家紋のデザインは実に豊富で、植物を中心としながら、動物、天文地理、器具、建造物などを図案化した。後ろ向きのウサギや鍵など、ユニークなモチーフも多数、存在する。戦国時代になると、天皇や将軍が戦国大名に家紋を与えることがあった。これを「賜与」という。そのため、戦国大名は複数の家紋を使い分けることとなった。一般的に、正式な場で用いる家紋を「定紋（じょうもん）」といい、そのほかの家紋を「副紋」と称した。
Between the Nambokucho period*3 (1336-1392) and the subsequent Muromachi period (1336-1573: overlaps with the Nambokucho period because one of the Imperial regencies was merely the puppet of the reigning Ashikaga shogunate), the number of family crests literally exploded, as even the descendants of illegitimate children of the nobility adopted their own crest. As a result, a book was published in which all the prominently used family crests were massed into a single volume. This book was called the Kenbun Shokamon (literally translates to “The various family crests one comes across”), and its creation signified the need for samurai to readily distinguish the family crests of their adversaries. 

家紋のデザインは実に豊富で、植物を中心としながら、動物、天文地理、器具、建造物などを図案化した。後ろ向きのウサギや鍵など、ユニークなモチーフも多数、存在する。戦国時代になると、天皇や将軍が戦国大名に家紋を与えることがあった。これを「賜与」という。そのため、戦国大名は複数の家紋を使い分けることとなった。一般的に、正式な場で用いる家紋を「定紋（じょうもん）」といい、そのほかの家紋を「副紋」と称した。

There are literally thousands of family crests, rich in variety and style. Though most designs incorporate a plant-oriented motif, other items were also used, such as animals, astronomical elements, tools and weapons, as well as buildings. There were even some incredibly original designs that probably turned more than a few heads on the battlefield, such as the backwards facing rabbit, and even a key.　Entering the Sengoku period, the Imperial Court or the Shogun would often confer special family crests upon distinguished samurai families. This was called shiyo*4, and in turn resulted in many daimyo using multiple family crests. For formal occasions the family crest that was used was referred to as the joumon (literally “the specified crest”), while the other crests used were called fukumon (or “sub-crests”). 

例えば、中国地方を代表するセンゴク大名の毛利氏は、家紋として「一文字に三つ星」を使用していたが、ほかにも正規町天皇から賜与された。家紋は、天皇家や将軍家の権威を高める道具としても使われたのである。
An example of this in practice is the Mori family, who rose to prominence and ruled over the Chukoku region (western Honshu, which is the main island of the Japanese archipelago). For their joumon, they used the “ichimonji ni mitsuboshi” (three stars beneath one line), but they also used the “go-shichi kiri” (5 and 7 paulownia leaves) as their fukumon. This is the crest the Imperial Court bestowed upon their family. Family crests were also used by the Shogun and the Imperial Court to boost their own prestige and authority. 

 

毛利家の家紋：一文字に三つ星

Mori Clan Family Crest: “Ichimonji Ni Mitsuboshi” (Three Stars beneath One Line)

このように、家紋は比較的、自由に使用することが出来たが、戦国末期になると、豊臣秀吉が天皇家の「桐」や「菊」の使用を禁止したと言われている。また、徳川家康は自らの権威を高めるため、徳川以外が菱紋を使用することを禁止している。
Up until this point, one was practically free to choose whichever family crest they desired. However, towards the end of the Sengoku period, Toyotomi Hideyoshi began to impose restrictions on family crests, specifically forbidding the use of “kiri” and “giku” (paulownia and chrysanthemum, respectively) motifs for family crests. Later, Tokugawa Ieyasu would prohibit the use of the hollyhock motif, assigning it as the official family crest for the shogunate in efforts to boost the shogunate’s authority and legitimacy.

江戸時代に入ると、自家の格を明示する服装の決まりができるため、家紋の儀礼上、必要になった。時代も平和だったために、この頃からさらに数が増え、デザインとしても発達していくことになる。
The Tokugawa reign (1603-1867) came to be known as the Edo period (Edo being the capital, now present day Tokyo). During this time, family crests became a necessary formality, with the insignia sewn onto one’s kimono as a means of identifying both their family and indicating their social status. This time was a period of peace, leading to the rise in the number of designs and variations employed for family crests. 

石田氏：大一大万大吉

Ishida Clan Family Crest: Dai-ichi Dai-man Dai-kichi (1 for 10,000, 10,000 for 1)
文字による珍しいデザイン。大は天下の意味し、天下は一人が万人のために、万人が一人のために努力すれば、皆が吉（幸福）になるという願いが込められている。

This crest sports a unique design composed entirely of kanji characters. It conveys the desire for one man to work for the happiness of 10,000 people, with those individuals returning the favor

このように、家紋は単なる飾りではなかった。歴史を振り返ってみれば、戦いでの標識や権威の象徴、そして自家を示すシンボルとして、重要な意味をもっていたことがわかるだろう。
In conclusion, it is readily apparent that family crests were far more than a decorative accessory implemented to accent one’s wardrobe. Upon examining the historical roots of these symbols, one discovers that family crests were an important symbol that fulfilled an important role. The family crest not only indicated one’s family identity, but also acted as a symbol on the battlefield and legitimate representation of authority.

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heian_period
Please pardon me for taking the easy route and citing wiki. But rather than pester you with lengthy footnotes, I encourage you to click the links and read on if you are interested. While I cannot guarantee that wiki is accurate, it is a good place to start.

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hogen_Rebellion 

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanboku-chō_period
I was a little disturbed to see that the English entry on wiki is far more detailed than its corresponding Japanese entry. Guess that goes to show where the emphasis of historical study lies.

4. 賜与 This kanji compound doubles up two verbs that both mean “to give”, though the first kanji carries a far more formal, essential regal connotation.