The meaning of family crests and the aesthetics of their design
The meaning of family crests and the aesthetics of their design
-Memories and prayers dwelling in these forms-
A family crest is not just a "mark."
They are memories, prayers, and silent stories passed down through time.
This small design, condensed into a circle, quietly embodies the family's history, the local climate, and aesthetic sense.
At WABISUKE, we value the meaning behind the shapes and patterns we put into our purses and cloth accessories.
This time, we would like to quietly unravel the aesthetics of family crests, which also underlie our manufacturing.
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What is a family crest?
- A silent business card, or a form of prayer -
Family crests are a heraldic culture unique to Japan that is said to have first been used among samurai from the end of the Heian period through the Kamakura period.
It was used for identification on the battlefield and as proof of lineage, and eventually spread to nobles, townspeople, and farmers.
It is said that there are currently more than 5,000 species.
All kinds of motifs, including plants, animals, objects, and natural phenomena, are abstracted and placed within circles.
A family crest "speaks without saying a word." It is like a quiet business card that conveys the family's spirituality and aesthetic sense even before the name.
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Why is it contained within a circle?
- Completion and circulation, the structure of beauty -
Many family crests have a design arranged within a circle.
This circle is not just a frame. The circle is a shape that symbolizes completeness and permanence.
It is a symbol of a cycle that continues endlessly, with no beginning or end.
Family ties, the chain of life, and the cycle of prayer.
The circle of the family crest also serves as a vessel that quietly embraces these elements.
The "roundness" and "enveloping" feel of WABISUKE's purses seem to resonate with this circular concept in some way.
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How to choose a design and its meaning
- Thoughts entrusted to plants, animals, and objects -
Each motif in a family crest has a meaning. For example:
・Paulownia: A symbol of nobility and prosperity. It is also known as the crest of the Imperial family and the Toyotomi clan.
・Crane: Longevity and marital harmony. Its flapping wings represent hope for the future.
・Hemp leaves: Growth and protection from evil. Used to pray for the healthy growth of children.
・Tortoise Shell: Solidity and longevity. The hexagonal structure represents the order of nature.
These designs are not merely decorative, but embody "wishes" and "prayers."
There is something in common with the feelings that WABISUKE puts into its patterns and colors.
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The beauty of abstraction and omission
- The Japanese design spirit told through white space -
The beauty of family crests lies in their abbreviation and abstraction.
For example, while actual paulownia leaves and flowers have complex shapes, in family crests they are simplified geometrically, enhancing their symbolic power.
This "aesthetics of stripping away" is a feeling that is shared by traditional Japanese crafts, architecture, Japanese sweets, and WABISUKE products.
By not telling everything and leaving it to the imagination, a quiet strength and depth is born.
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Family crests and modern times
- From inheritance to reinterpretation -
Nowadays, there are fewer opportunities to see family crests in everyday life.
However, its essence certainly lives on in logo design, fashion, and architectural design.
WABISUKE also incorporates elements in the clasp fasteners and fabric patterns that evoke the symbolism and circular structure of a family crest.
It is not a matter of simply following tradition, but rather of "reinterpreting the form while retaining the meaning."
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Conclusion
- A quiet story that resides in the form -
A family crest is a "memory of form" that speaks without speaking.
Family history, the winds of the land, and forms of prayer are quietly but surely engraved there.
WABISUKE's manufacturing also values the "story that resides in the form."
The roundness of the purse, the texture of the fabric, and the rhythm of the pattern.
We hope that each and every one of these items will gently embrace your heart in your daily life.
Like a family crest, quiet, deep, and long.
We will continue to create shapes that fit into your lifestyle.