eraldry: The Art of the Code

What is Heraldry? Heraldry is the ancient

practice of creating a picture to represent you, your family, or

your nation.

The separate elements of this

picture, and where they are placed, have different

meanings when put together.

What are They For?A heraldic device, which is what these pictures are called officially, are used

to:Identify property.

Show off something your family is famous for.

Trace your family tree.

Announce an award you have earned, or an achievement you are proud of.

Let people know who you are.

The three castles in the flag of Aberdeen, in Scotland, represent the

three real castles which used to border the city.

On a building, or a statue, or in a book, they can be

called ‘Family Arms.’

Heraldic devices are known by many different names, and sometimes refer to

different ways in which they are displayed.

On a shield, like this one from Poland, or when

displayed on a cloak, they are known as a ‘Coat of

Arms.’

Many other cultures outside of Europe have Coats of Arms, and they don’t just have to be engraved on shields, or drawn on armor. They can be found on

buildings, on coins, or painted onto flags.

This kamon, a Chrysanthemum blossom,

represents the Imperial Family of Japan.

The Russian Czars put their family crest on all the country’s

money.

Coats of ArmsThe most famous form of a heraldic device is known as a ‘Coat of Arms.’ From 14th Century onwards in Europe, this meant that knights, lords, and royalty were easily identifiable in jousting tournaments, or on the battlefield when you had to know which soldier belonged to which lord’s household.

Symbols and Meanings

This is a very small example of the different symbols you can use when creating a coat of arms, or a full heraldic device.

Each symbol in the picture on the right has a different meaning in the Heraldic language.

The typical family device is constructed like in the picture below, with only the shield being carried into battle.

Picture taken from: http://www.japanusencounters.net/mon/

There are as many different combinations of heraldic symbols as there are different sorts of families.

In Europe, the animals to either side of the shield are the supports, and the type of animal chosen is an indication of what noble family a knight belonged to, but that doesn’t mean that an animal can’t be on the shield as well!

Arms from the Fenwick roll, originally compiled in the reigns of Henry V and VI

http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/

In Japan, where the art of heraldry has been

practiced since the 7th century, the kamon

(the family crests) are also drawn from

nature, or work, or religious symbols.

Just as in Europe, heraldry is used to

show which family a person belongs to.

Even though the larger picture may be

unchanged, the inner symbols can be

different.

List of Kamon: http://bushido.over-blog.com/article-7051548.html

You could use this Fleur-de-lis symbol if your family is from

France.Laurel leaves (like these golden ones) are traditional Greek and Roman symbols of

victory, and royalty.

EXAMPLES

Cadency Marks (Family Information)

http://www.modernheraldry.com/questions/q5.htm

MottosA motto is a saying, usually a phrase, or a short sentence,

that expresses an important idea. They can be in any language, and usually appear on the bottom, and

sometimes the top, of the Coat of Arms.

Some state mottos are:

Oregon: Alis volat propriis (She Flies with Her Own Wings) Latin

Washington: Al-ki (By and By) Chinook Jargon

Hawai’i: Ua mau ke ea o ka ʻāina i ka pono (The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.) Hawaiian http://www.oregon.gov/DAS/

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N o w i t ’ s Yo u r Tu rn !

W h a t s o r t o f C o a t o f

A rm s w o u l d y o u

m a ke ?

http://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/Faq.htm

Get Started!Follow this link below from the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, England to get

an idea of what your own Coat of Arms might look like:

Design Your Own Coat of Arms!

What would you add?

What do you want others to know about you?