Table of Contents

Appearance of mon as early as Nara period
12th C Taira & Minamoto wars, hata-jirushi
13th/14th Cs: the Mongol invasions period
15th/16th Cs: heraldry carried on shields, nobori banners, sashimono flags attached to armour, maku screens
Army organisation produces system of coloured unit flags/symbols
Buddhist & Christian symbolism
Uma-jirushi commanders' flags
Tsukai-ban messenger corps: the horo displayed cloak
17th C: the fully developed system of the early Edo period.

About the Author

Stephen Turnbull is widely recognised as the world’s leading English language authority on the samurai of Japan. He took his first degree at Cambridge and has two MAs (in Theology and Military History) and a PhD from Leeds University. He is now retired and pursues an active literary career, having now published 85 books. His expertise has helped with numerous projects including films, television and the award-winning strategy game Shogun Total War.

Angus McBride was one of the world's most respected historical illustrators, and contributed to over 100 Osprey titles over several decades.