Kashiwa (Japanese Oak) in Family Crests: The Symbolism of Oak Leaves in Japanese Kamon
In Japan, Kamon (家紋), or family crests, have been passed down for generations as symbols of a family’s identity.
These designs feature a wide variety of motifs, including plants, animals, and natural patterns, each with its own meaning and wish.
In this article, we’ll introduce the family crests that use the Kashiwa (柏) or Japanese oak motif, which are considered particularly auspicious.
By exploring why the kashiwa leaf was chosen for a family crest, as well as its symbolic meaning and design characteristics, we can gain insight into the values and aesthetics of the Japanese people.
Table of Contents
What is Kashiwa? Its Cultural and Botanical Characteristics
To truly understand the Kashiwa crest, you first need to know the cultural and botanical characteristics of the kashiwa tree itself.
The Japanese kashiwa (Quercus dentata) is a deciduous broadleaf tree belonging to the oak family (Fagaceae).
While European and American oaks belong to the same family, the species are different.
A distinctive feature of the Japanese kashiwa leaf is its large, rounded serrations along the edges, which distinguishes it from other related species.
The most unique characteristic of the kashiwa leaf is that even after it withers in the autumn, the old leaves remain on the branches until new buds sprout the following spring.
This sight of “old leaves not falling until the next generation takes over” has long been revered as a literal symbol of “an unbroken family line” and “the prosperity of descendants.”
While this phenomenon is simply a law of nature, the Japanese people saw it as a powerful metaphor for the continuation of a family line – the most fundamental desire in human society – and found a universal value in it.
The background of the kashiwa leaf being stylized into a family crest lies in this uniquely Japanese cultural mindset of finding lessons and prayers in the natural world.
Furthermore, the kashiwa tree has a deep connection with Japan’s traditional religion, Shinto, and its ancient culture, as it has been considered a sacred tree since ancient times.
In ancient Japan, kashiwa leaves were used as plates for serving food, and they came to be regarded as sacred vessels for offering food to the gods.
The Pillow Book (枕草子), a classic of Japanese literature from the Heian period, notes that a “leaf-guarding deity” (葉守の神) resides in the kashiwa tree, further solidifying its status as a sacred object of worship.
Why Was Kashiwa Chosen for Family Crests?
The reason kashiwa was chosen as a motif for family crests is rooted in the combination of its botanical characteristics and its historical connection to cultural and spiritual values.
The biggest reason is that the kashiwa’s nature of “not dropping its old leaves until new ones appear” symbolized the good fortune of an “unbroken family line” and “lasting for generations.”
Samurai and daimyo families adopted this crest to express their wish for the perpetual continuation of their lineage.
Additionally, kashiwa had a strong connection to sacred beliefs.
Since ancient times, kashiwa leaves were used as vessels for offerings during Shinto rituals, making them particularly favored by Shinto priests.
It is well known that many Shinto priests, such as the Urabe clan (the modern-day Yoshida family) who oversaw Shinto rituals, the Kushimoto clan who served at Ise Grand Shrine, and the Sen’naki clan, the Chief Priest of Atsuta Shrine, used the kashiwa crest.
The ritual of Kashiwade (柏手), or hand-clapping toward a deity at a shrine, is also said to originate from the ancient belief that the kashiwa leaf was a sacred object.
There is also a theory that the word kashiwade comes from kashiwade (膳夫), the ancient title for a person who oversaw the serving of food offerings to the gods.
It’s interesting to note that while the act of “clapping hands” is the same, the meaning differs. At a shrine, kashiwade is used to convey joy, gratitude, and wishes to the deities through sound.
However, in Shinto funeral rites, a silent clap called shinobite (忍び手) is used.
This is because Shinto regards death as an impurity and avoids making sound.
This contrast highlights a subtle aspect of Japanese culture: even when the same motif is used, its meaning can change depending on the situation and emotion.
The Design and Variations of the Kashiwa Crest
Due to its popularity, the kashiwa crest has a great number of design variations.
The crests, which stylize leaves, branches, and trunks, have over 500 variations registered in crest catalogs.
The most basic designs are the Tachi-gashiwa (立ち柏), which depicts a single leaf, and those that combine multiple leaves.
Here are a few representative designs:
Maru ni Mitsu-gashiwa (丸に三つ柏)
This is one of the most common crests, with three kashiwa leaves arranged in a circle and enclosed by an outer ring.
Daki-gashiwa (抱き柏)
This design features two kashiwa leaves embracing each other, expressing the desire to cherish the family line.
Tsuru-gashiwa (蔓柏)
This design adds a vine to the kashiwa leaf, emphasizing prosperity and vitality.
In addition to these basic designs, many other varieties were created through geometric arrangements and combinations with other motifs.
The diversity of these designs arose from a historical practice of intentionally altering crests – by changing the number of leaf veins or their arrangement – to differentiate main families from their branch families or to mark a new generation.
The “aesthetics of subtraction” inherent in Japanese family crests shows that they were not bound by rigid rules, but instead held infinite possibilities for visually expressing each family’s unique identity.
Western Oak vs. Japanese Kashiwa: A Comparison of Symbolism
Although both are trees of the same family, Western oaks and the Japanese kashiwa have completely different cultural symbolisms.
This contrast highlights the different values held by each culture.
In the West, the oak symbolizes “strength,” “power,” “authority,” and “glory.”
One reason for this is that oaks are more likely to be struck by lightning than other trees.
Consequently, the oak became a sacred tree of supreme gods and thunder gods, such as Zeus in Greek mythology, Jupiter in Roman mythology, and Thor in Norse mythology.
In ancient Rome, a crown of oak leaves was awarded to victorious generals, and to this day, its design is used in military honors, such as the German “Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves,” symbolizing military glory.
In contrast, the Japanese kashiwa symbolizes more internal and peaceful values, such as “family prosperity,” “continuation of the bloodline,” and “longevity.”
This contrast suggests a fundamental difference in values: one culture emphasizes external power like “dominion” and “conquest,” while the other prioritizes internal connections like “succession” and “harmony.”
The Kashiwa crest is the culmination of a unique Japanese cultural interpretation, where people deeply observed the laws of nature and found a universal value in the human endeavor of family perpetuity.
| Item | Japanese Kashiwa | Western Oak |
| Cultural Sphere | Japan | Europe, North America |
| Main Symbolism | Family prosperity, continuation of the bloodline, longevity | Power, strength, authority, glory |
| Cultural Background | Its nature of “not dropping leaves” was associated with the continuation of a family line. A sacred tree used as a vessel in Shinto rituals. | Its nature of “being struck by lightning” led to it becoming a sacred tree of supreme and thunder gods. |
| Representative Examples | Family crests, Kashiwa-mochi (rice cakes) | German military honors, ancient Roman crowns |
Kashiwa Crests and Prominent Historical Families
Kashiwa crests were used not only by Shinto priests and court nobles but also by many samurai and daimyo families. Among Shinto priests and nobles, the Yoshida family, the Kushimoto family who served at Ise Grand Shrine, and the Sen’naki family, the Chief Priest of Atsuta Shrine, are known to have used the kashiwa crest.
Among samurai families, the Yamanouchi clan, who became the lords of the Tosa Domain, used a slender kashiwa crest known as the “Tosa-gashiwa.”
They served Toyotomi Hideyoshi and made great achievements at the Battle of Sekigahara.
The Makino clan of Echigo-Nagaoka also used their own unique crest called the “Makino-gashiwa.”
The Nakagawa clan of the Bungo-Oka Domain also used a kashiwa crest, known as the “Nakagawa-gashiwa.”
Here’s an interesting fact about historical family crests.
For example, the Sengoku period warlord Asai Nagamasa used the “Kikkō ni Mitsu-mori-mon” as his main crest and was not a user of the kashiwa crest.
However, in the case of Oda Nobunaga, while his main crest is widely known as the “Oda Mokkō,” it is recorded that tombstones with the “Mitsu-gashiwa” crest exist at the burial site of his family.
This fact suggests a complex dynamic of family lineage, where crests were used differently by the main family, branch families, or through marriage, going beyond a simple “this family used this crest” scheme.
Family crests are not merely historical symbols; they tell the complex stories of the families behind them.
The Presence of Kashiwa in Modern Japan
Even though the culture of family crests is fading in modern times, kashiwa continues to be a part of our lives in various ways.
Family crests still quietly maintain their presence on special occasions, such as on formal attire like montsuki hakama (紋付袴) and tomesode (留袖), on tombstones, and in the decorations of shrines and temples.
In recent years, the simple and beautiful designs of family crests have been re-evaluated and are now being used in new forms, such as company logos, packaging designs, fashion, and art.
The universal design of family crests can be seen as the origin of modern logos and digital icons.
However, the symbolism of kashiwa is most intimately felt in the custom of eating Kashiwa-mochi (柏餅), rice cakes wrapped in kashiwa leaves, on Children’s Day (May 5th).
This traditional Japanese sweet, which embodies the symbolism of an “unbroken family line,” contains the wishes of people for the prosperity of their descendants.
This custom, centered in the Kanto region, spread during the Edo period when samurai culture placed a high value on offspring.
In contrast, the tradition of eating chimaki (rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves) was more prevalent in western Japan.
The reason kashiwa leaves are used for kashiwa-mochi is not just for good luck.
The leaves also have practical roles: they add a pleasant aroma to the rice cake and enhance its preservation with their antibacterial and moisturizing properties.
Thus, the kashiwa leaf combines both a spiritual aspect – wishing for family prosperity – and a practical one, rooted in the wisdom of daily life.
This shows how Japanese culture has developed not just as a conceptual belief system, but in a way that is deeply integrated into daily life.
Conclusion: The Values of “Family” and “Connection” Embodied in the Kashiwa Crest
The story of the Kashiwa family crest tells us how much the Japanese people have cherished “family,” “bloodline,” and “connection to ancestors” since ancient times.
It is the visualization of an “unseen bond” that transcends individual power and is passed down through generations – a strong wish for the perpetuity of the family as a community.
While the Western oak symbolizes external “power” and “glory,” the Japanese kashiwa symbolizes internal “continuation” and “prosperity.”
This contrast suggests that Japanese culture has prioritized “succession” and “harmony” over “conflict” and “conquest.”
The Kashiwa crest is the culmination of a uniquely Japanese cultural interpretation, where people deeply observed the laws of nature and found a universal value in the human endeavor of family perpetuity.
The Kashiwa crest is not merely a historical relic.
Every time we see a family crest at a formal ceremony, it quietly asks us where we come from and what we have inherited.
In a rapidly changing modern world, it is a timeless message that helps us re-recognize the value of “family” and “connection.”
References
- Tokyo Updates: Family crest culture embodies Japanese virtues. What is its appeal that continues to this day?
- Fammily Style: oak
- Origin of the family crest: Oak crest
- Shrine headquarters: How to worship
- Wikipedia: Oak
