家紋かもん

Japanese

家紋かもん (kamon): Various kinds of mon or family crest.

Imperial family crest and seal of Japan.	Family crest of the Tokugawa clan.
Family crest of the Oda clan.	Family crest depicting an upright arrowhead leaf.

Kanji in this term
家いえ	紋もん
か Grade: 2	もん Grade: S
on'yomi

Etymology

The reading is a kan'on-goon combination, suggesting that this term was probably coined in Japan of Middle Chinese-derived elements as a compound of 家いえ (ka, “house, family, household”) +‎ 紋もん (mon, “mark, design, pattern”).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) かもん [kàmóń] (Heiban – [0])
• IPA^(key): [ka̠mõ̞ɴ]

Noun

家いえ(か)紋もん(もん) • (kamon) 

1. a crest for a household or family

   Similar to the heraldic badges and coats of arms in European heraldic tradition. Initially held only by aristocratic families, then gradually adapted by commoners.

Synonyms

• 紋所もんどころ(もんどころ) (mondokoro)
• 定紋じょうもん(じょうもん) (jōmon)