Symbol on Sensei's Bogu???

[nodachi]

I have a question about a little symbol I see on my sensei's do armor piece (I appologize for crappy terminology, I just started Kendo a month ago).

Two of the most advanced senseis in my Kendo club have what look like a little circle symbol on the upper left of their do armor piece. It looks a little like the YinYang sybbol except there are three sections to it and not just two. It is gold colored as well.

Does this mean anything or is it just a design from the person who made their armor? I haven't seen it on anyone's bogu and I thought it might have some sort of significance.

Thanks for the help.

[lucian]

If there Japanese, it will more than likely be there family kamon (crest)

[KhawMengLee]

Yup, its the kamon. You can get it stenciled on your bogu at any kendo dealer in Japan. I have a Manji(swastika) symbol on my bamboo set (no I am not a Nazi but a buddhist as what the symbol denotes).

for more on kamons:http://www.netpersons.co.jp/kamon/selected.html/index.html

PEACE
MENG

[David J]

Good on ya Meng, we need more people fighting to get our symbol back. Tricky in some countries (such as England), where the Nazi connotation is so strong.....

<rei>

Dave

[KhawMengLee]

yeh...I'll be working in London next year...heh, gonna have to explain a lot about my bogu I forsee...

[David J]

Hey, cool! When are you coming over? Make sure you join my dojo - then I can stick up for you when you get accused of being a nazi! Will be cool to cross swords with you anyway....

<rei>

Dave

[Kendoboy]

I'll have a go as well!

[taiwnezboi]

at our kumdo dojo.. the bogu we buy has a little circle too.. it has our school symbol in it..

[Kendoka]

... surely the brits will recognise that the swastika ws inverted by the nazis ?

Graphically and idealogically !

R

[Jerry Wellbrock]

Nodachisama.....the symbol you describe as a three piece similar to the Ying-Yang symbol may possible be the symbol of "Hachiman" the Shinto god of war.....this is often seen on many different pieces of martial arts equipment and uniforms.....Hachiman while a Shito god is also the protector of Buddist....protector of Peace and the protector of Children.....sounds like a pretty cool guy to me.....you may be able to find out by looking at a website that desplays Japanese family crest or mon.....:confused:

[KhawMengLee]

Is this the Kamon?

[KhawMengLee]

wait that didn't load properly:

here it is again(I hope)

[nodachi]

I think that is the one. Thanks for the help everyone. This forum is great!

[ben]

This comma-like symbol is called a "tomo-e". Being three tomoe it would, I suppose, be called "mitsu no tomoe". Ka-mon are indeed fascinating things. Even Led Zeppelin started appropriating them towards the end... Mitsubishi (Three Diamonds) is one of the most famous of the old ones. My personal favourite is the Shimazu clan's "maruju" - just a cross inside a circle.

Who else wears kamon on their do? Did you put it there? Is it your family's? Was the bogu donated from Japan? Do you know what it means?

b

BTW - Nodachisama, er, I'm hoping you don't use "sama" to introduce yourself in Japan... unless of course you ARE a god, in which case I most humbly apologise...

[KhawMengLee]

Heh, I like the other one Shimazu uses which is the circle with the 2 lines across. Or Mori clans 3 dots with the line under it. But Hojo clans Triangle with a black inverted Triangle inside is my fav.

I chose the manji in the circle because of mainly the buddhist meaning it has. Note the symbol I use turns anti clockwise following the flow of the rising sun(eAST TO wEST). This denotes positive energy, the one used by the Nazis (but also a buddhist symbol) denotes destruction. Just the meaning of the Swastika as well appealled to me. The arms represent (like the ying and yang) Heaven and Hell, Good and Evil.

Originally, I was going for the two hawk feathers crossed in a circle. HAWK being a acronym for KHAW my surname.

The Myoga symbol that David J's dojo uses is nice as well. Apparently it also has buddhist connotations.

MENG

[Tato]

Hi.

I've two questions, hope that the more experienced among you could help me.

When do you think that you can put a Kamon on your do? Do you need to achieve at least some level?

And, if your family have a crest (European style), will it be acceptable to wear it in the do? (puting aside the fact that it's not a traditinal japanese Kamon, and that it will attire too much attention, not speaking of the number of explanations that other people will ask)

Rei

[nodachi]

"BTW - Nodachisama, er, I'm hoping you don't use "sama" to introduce yourself in Japan... unless of course you ARE a god, in which case I most humbly apologise..."

In response to Ben,

I don't use sama or san or anything of that to introduce myself. I know it is not appropriate to use on myself. However at the time I acquired this name a long time ago someone had already taken nodachi. How dare they!!! : ) I don't like numbers and thus sama was the first thing to pop into my head.

Sorry to any I have offended, and thanks for the laugh, it would be quite cool if I was a god, and a god with a nodachi no less, but alas... I shall have to be content with being a silly mortal.
: )

Peace out cub scouts!

[Hyaku]

Nodachisama wrote:

Sorry to any I have offended, and thanks for the laugh, it would be quite cool if I was a god, and a god with a nodachi no less, but alas... I shall have to be content with being a silly mortal.
...

Your using a Nodachi?

Hyaku

[Hyaku]

Some Japanese familys use a family crest that has a good history. I have to wear the crest of the present day descendant of the local lord of the fief at certain ceremonies. They are quite set in their ways of when I should or should not use it. For other demonstrations I use my own.

Then again some husbands join the wifes family. If your not Japanese are not married into a Japanese family it seems a bit silly using someone elses. Thing is would your crest fit in as they are generally heraldic colours? I used to put it on my Kendo Do but as its get well beaten most people put it on their best taikai set.

Hyaku

[nodachi]

No Nodachi, it's just a name.

Just typical Kendo with Shinai.

Sorry for the confusion.

[Haowen]

What's no-dachi used for anyway? Mounted combat?

Can't believe they can make a blade so long and still keep it so thin. Japanese swordcraft is amazing.

[nodachi]

A nodachi is a sword that is longer than a Katana. I forget exactly how much longer, sorry. It was used more on the battle field for massive combat.

[Haowen]

no-dachi for massive combat, eh. So I suppose they used the katana for medium combat, kodachi for small combat, and steak knives for itsy bitsy teeny weeny combat...

Steak knives kata ipponme: Before your steak even thinks about attacking you, use sen sen no sen and immobilize your enemy with the fork, and do a steak-shomen...

tee hee, sorry, couldn't resist.

[Confound]

Ben, thank you someone for noticing that. It's been bugging me since O Might and Venerable ONodachi's first post. (ONodachisama sounds suspiciously like 'Omachidosama dozo...')

c

ps - I wait with bated breath for notes on nodachi fom Hyaku. Seeing as he is actually familiar with them. (Maybe we should start a thread called "Questions for Hyaku" or something.)

[ben]

Poor old nodachi. He's probably wishing he just called himself bob2000...

b

[CypherSushi]

This is a bit OT but I have been wondering for a while... isn't the -sama prefix also used for mening Lord in the non-religous way? As in the lord of the land?

[Hyaku]

Originally posted by CypherSushi
This is a bit OT but I have been wondering for a while... isn't the -sama prefix also used for mening Lord in the non-religous way? As in the lord of the land?

Generally yes. But letters are addressed sama. Also when I go to the bank I am graciously called sama. If they only knew I was always taking money out to put it somewhere safer they would not call me that!

Hyaku

[CypherSushi]

That is what I thought... Thank you for enlightening me Hyaku-san *rei*

[KhawMengLee]

Heh:D

One of the Senior Instructors(Yondan) back in Malaysia was telling me about how he was in a takai in Singapore or something and his opponent was this big bloke with a pink(yes, PINK) "NO FEAR" sticker where the kamon should be.

He was like, "What the f*ck?!?" and then got cracked a nice sashi-men.

heh,

MENG