Blog 2: HeraldryAndCrests.com

COAT OF ARMS SYMBOLS AND MEANINGS

Since a very long time ago, people have associated themselves and their families with family crest symbols and coats

of arms. The purpose of these things was to tell to the world what they or their family stood for. It became a kind of

recognition, a badge with which they identified. The symbolical importance of family crests and coats of arms goes a

long way. Taking the example of Japanese samurai, these were the people that identified themselves with the

famous Sakura blossoms. The tree itself came to represent the spirit of a warrior, with its peculiar characteristic of

withstanding winters. It also came to represent impermanence and beauty through the delicate blossoms it

produced for a very short time.

The samurai wore this symbol on their shields while going into battle. It also signifies the Japanese principle of Mono

no Aware. Similarly, there have been other famous symbols so commonly noticeable that they get ignored: the Holy

Cross. It has been associated with Christian religion since time immemorial. Many churches have their own crests

that revolve around this design.

Symbolic representation is also highly noticeable in the flags of countries. Colors, symbols, stripes and other

diagrams – they all represent something that a country identifies herself with. Crests and symbols are not limited to

use by large communities only, many families today have their own flags, coat of arms and family crests. Many

businesses make use of symbols in all their transactions in the form of company’s seals.