Japanese heraldry uses several strategies to generate new kamon variations. Apart from enclosures and blenders, there are numerous fixed patterns that are recurrently applied to emblems: the X or “crossing” pattern, the “embracing” pattern, the “splitting” pattern, the “inverting” pattern… Those are but a few examples of recurrent patterns that compose Japanese heraldry.
Below is a (non exhaustive) glossary of kamon design patterns:
Agari | ascending |
Atsume | gathering |
Chigai | crossing |
Chūkage | emptied |
Chū-wa | semi thick circle |
Daki | embracing |
Eda-maru | branch circle |
Fusen | butterfly-shaped |
Futae | double-layered |
Gyōyō | saddle ornament shaped |
Hoso-wa | thin circle |
Irechigai | upside down |
Ito-wa | thread circle |
Janome | snake eye |
Kage | inverted |
Kana-wa | metal ring |
Kashira awase | top combined |
Katate | single |
Kawari | variation |
Kokumochi | inverted ~ on a black circle |
Kōrin | Korin style |
Kumiai | intertwined |
Kuzushi | modified |
Mamuki | facing forward |
Mori (x-mori) | doubled, tripled, etc. |
Mukai | confronting |
Musubi | tied |
Narabi | side by side |
Ni-kai (x-kai) | 2-stacked, x-stacked |
Sagari | descending |
Shiri awase | bottom combined |
Tachi | standing |
Tomoe | jewel-shaped |
Ushiro muki | facing backward |
Wari (x-wari) | split, x-split |
Yokomi | facing sideways |
Yose | combination |
Yuki-wa | snow crystal ring |