Questions

How did battle flags become a big part of Japanese culture?

During the start of the Kamakura Bakufu, in 1185, the new leader, Minamoto Yoritomo made a plain white flag his own and ordered his followers not to use the same concept. They were allowed to use other colored flags with distinguishing crests on them. (Kato, 2009)

Battle flags saw a huge increase in popularity during the Sengoku era. The civil war and the decreased power of the government meant that ordinary people were now able to rise in the social hierarchy. Battle’s themselves changed too and it led to different forms of battle flags. (Kato, 2009)

Between 1568 and 1600 the battle for the control of Japan heated up. During this time many samurai wars took place and battle flags of major lords like Tokugawa, Takeda and Oda appeared on the battlefield. (Kato, 2009) In 1603, after the social unrest, during the Edo Period, Tokugawa took over the leadership of the country. The flags used in the battles ended up in Buddhist temples or ceremonies as offerings. (Kato, 2009)

How were the flags carried and used in battles?

In samurai culture, Japanese battle flags, known as sashimono, were integral components of a warrior's attire during battles. Worn on the backs of their armor or affixed to poles, these flags served multifaceted roles on the battlefield. Primarily, they functioned as identification markers, allowing warriors to recognize allies amidst the chaos of combat. (METMuseum.org, 2023)

Nobori and uma-jirushi flags played crucial roles on the battlefield in feudal Japan, serving both practical and psychological functions. Nobori, characterized by their long, narrow shape and planted in the ground or carried by foot soldiers, acted as markers indicating key locations and communicated messages to allied forces through distinct designs and symbols. These flags bolstered morale among troops, instilling a sense of unity and purpose as they rallied around the symbols of their clans or families. (Kato, 2009)

Uma-jirushi flags, on the other hand, were smaller and square-shaped, mounted on the backs of horses or carried by cavalrymen. Serving as identifiers for military units, uma-jirushi flags facilitated coordination and prevented friendly fire by distinguishing between different units. Moreover, the sight of a unified cavalry charge under the fluttering flags could intimidate enemy forces, disrupting their formations and bolstering the psychological advantage of the samurai army. (Kato, 2009)

2023, ”Banner (sashimono)”, METMuseum. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/894756 

Kato, Tetsuo. 2009. “The Development of The War Flags of Japanese Feudal Lords in 12 ~ 16th century.” Japanese Vexillological Association. https://fiav.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ICV23-08-Kato-TheDevelopmentoftheWarFlagsofJapaneseFeudalLords.pdf