Trying out new Jingasa (Samurai iron helmets)

[cheng]

Comparing Cowabounga's beautiful (Western Knights) heraldies and this Samurai 'Mon' (also printed by Cowabounga ),
Japanese Mons are more simple and monochromatic.

The Samurai were not too concerned with exclusivity of their Mons which were just for indentification on battle fields.

The "Katabami" type of Mon is made up of heart-shaped leaves that form a flower,
used by Sakai, Mimura, Chosokabe, Matsudaira, Tokugawa(1829) samurai(s).

This particular Mon, the "Ken-Katabami"
is also known as the "Ronins' Mon"
(a Ronin is a masterless samurai)

[Bill Blackhurst]

Your attention to detail & knowledge of history is fantastic, cheng! I learn something everytime you show us a new creation!

[cheng]

youre most welcome Bill!
(if I can read Japanese, there'll be more I myself can learn too )

I know you can identify this piece, Bill.... but any ladies here can say what this is? (not referring to the leaves)

[Wolf Knight]

They look awesome!!

[playmofire]

Very impressive, cheng, and thanks, too, for the background information.  But if different samurai used the same insignia, wasn't there a risk that an enemy would kill the wrong one?  And did it ever happen that two samurai using the same insignia might be fighting on different sides?

[cheng]

Very impressive, cheng, and thanks, too, for the background information.  But if different samurai used the same insignia, wasn't there a risk that an enemy would kill the wrong one?  And did it ever happen that two samurai using the same insignia might be fighting on different sides?

very good question indeed...its possible that may happen,
even though there are so many variations, some more rational, to identify their lords, some, very personal, the samurai's personal or family crest...so its a sea of different flags, just to help identify the samurai or his soldiers but at least one can spot where cheng is (assuming he carried a Geobra logo)
...2 drawings here to illustrate the confusion

[playmofire]

but at least one can spot where cheng is (assuming he carried a Geobra logo)

 

...2 drawings here to illustrate the confusion

Yep, certainly very confusing!  The second picture suggests that the samurai would have made good Playmobil fans in their willingness to mix different periods.

[conniefrere]

Great pictures! Really love the klicky's and also the interesting background info.

[cowabounga]

Oh! You posted them already! I must say they're a fairly good addition to your already wonderful customs. Didn't I print these mons on a black background?
BTW, I know what the golden part in the picture is… girls, the shape of the hole in the middle is a good hint as to what this is!
A.

[skypurr]

I know you can identify this piece, Bill.... but any ladies here can say what this is? (not referring to the leaves)

This lady's been trying to work out what it is    I feel I ought to know but I've had to give up 

Elaine