Asian Heraldry

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Examples:

Period:

Artifacts

Information A	Information B	Information C

Modern:

Pictorial Dictionary, 3rd edition:

• http://mistholme.com/pictorial-dictionary-of-heraldry

Vector Graphics:

• Book of Traceable Heraldic Art

Sources:

• Academy of St. Gabriel "Medieval Heraldry Archive" - http://www.s-gabriel.org/heraldry/
• Archive of St. Gabriel reports - http://www.panix.com/~gabriel/public-bin/archive.cgi
• Laurel Armory Articles - http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/armory_articles.html

• New Heraldic Primer (Heraldry for Non-Heralds) - http://heraldry.sca.org/armory/newprimer/
• Pictorial Dictionary of Heraldry (PicDic), 3rd Edition - http://mistholme.com/pictorial-dictionary-of-heraldry
• Period Armorials

• Parker's Heraldry - https://www.heraldsnet.org/saitou/parker/index.htm
• Riestap's Armorial Général - http://www.euraldic.com/lasu/bl/bl_a_aa.html

Chinese:

• Hayes, L. (1923). The Chinese Dragon. Shanghai, China: Commercial Press Ltd.
• Salviati, Filippo. The Language of Adornment: Chinese Ornaments of Jade, Crystal, Amber and Glass. Ten Speed Press. (2002)
• http://www.britishmuseum.org/pdf/Chinese_Symbols_1109.pdf [link broken as of 10/2021]
• https://online.mhjc.school.nz/pluginfile.php/163798/mod_resource/content/1/Y7-Chinese_symbols_1109.pdf
  • Common Charges from above: Wheels, Pairs of Fish, Conch Shells, Banners, Flowers (like Lotus, Peony, Cherry), Knots, Bamboo, Pine trees, Written characters (One Per Device, although this is problematic in SCA rules), Bats, Cranes, The number 5, Cicadas, Dragonflies
  • Common Colors (ibid): Red, Yellow, Black, White, Blue, Green
  • Other: Rayonney and Wavy field divisions, borders, and ordinaries
  • per Beyond the Great Wall (class handout by Wu Yun at KWHSS 2020)

Indian:

Münster, Sebastian. Cosmographia, Book V. Page 1080 discusses the monsters of India. http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00generallinks/munster/india/aa_india.html

Japanese:

See also Mon

[Kihō's Japanese Heraldry Database] A compendium of mon (crests) and other forms of Japanese heraldry, focusing on early Edo and pre-Edo Japan.

Rules

SENA A2.B.4.a - non-European armorial elements

a. Non-European Armorial Elements: Elements found only in non-European armorial traditions (e.g., Islamic and Japanese heraldry) are registerable but a step from period practice. The use of two such elements requires the use of the Individually Attested Pattern rules, discussed in [[1]]. These elements must still be describable in standard SCA heraldic terms. The use of elements found in period European armory is not a step from period practice, even if they were also used in non-European contexts.

• http://heraldry.sca.org/sena.html#A2

Precedents:

Precedents of the SCA College of Arms - http://heraldry.sca.org/laurel/precedents.html
Morsulus Heralds Website - http://www.morsulus.org/ (to search the LoARs and Precedents)
Use the above links to be sure any precedents listed below haven't been superseded by newer precedents.

Definition:

(includes defaults, proper tinctures, blazoning)

Registerability:

(Restricted, Reserved, SFPP, OOP)

June 2018 CL - t'ai-chi not registerable

From Wreath: T'ai-Chi and Field Divisions Embowed Counter-Embowed The January 2018 LoAR included a device that was pended for discussion and research on period European armorial uses of the motif of a roundel per fess embowed counter-embowed argent and sable charged in fess with two roundels counterchanged, known in SCA blazon as a t'ai-chi (also commonly known as a yin-yang symbol). It was found in that pend that "No evidence was presented and none could be found that a t'ai-chi was used in period Asian armory. As a non-European artistic motif, a t'ai-chi is unregisterable under SENA, which means that we must consider it under European armorial standards." Commenters were asked for "examples of the full motif in period European armorial contexts, evidence of embowed counter-embowed as a period complex field division, and discussion on roundels as armorial display."

Only one example of the motif was found, an entry from a 5th century Roman manuscript Notitia Dignitatum of over 400 pages, which had copies made in the 15th and 16th centuries. In the section that depicts some 120 unit insignia, one example is found of a shield divided per pale embowed counter-embowed Or (or vert) and azure, charged with two roundels in pale gules). This single pre-heraldic unit insignia is not sufficient to consider the entire motif as a charge, nor the use of embowed counter-embowed as an appropriate line of division for core heraldry purposes. Barring further documentation, the use of either will be grounds for return.

http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2018/06/18-06cl.html#3

August 2017 - Chinese dragon unregisterable

"Tyok Liftfot. Badge. (Fieldless) A Chinese dragon's head cabossed azure. This submission was previously returned in September 2016:

This device is returned for redraw, for violating SENA A2C2 which states "Elements must be drawn to be identifiable." Commenters had trouble identifying the dragon's head, potentially mistaking it for a demon's head. It might be difficult to achieve recognizability without the rest of the dragon's body.

In the appeal, the submitter provided an example of a 15th century Chinese dragon on a carved lacquer box. The kingdom commentators supplied more examples of Chinese artwork depicting dragon's heads, in an attempt to demonstrate that the motif of a Chinese dragon's head (sans body) is reproducible, recognizable, and exemplified by the submitted artwork.

However, this badge runs into more issues than immediate recognizability. There are only two instances of a Chinese dragon's head in SCA heraldry, both registered to Raymond de Caen. The first was his device, registered in May 1989, and the second was a badge from August 1997, with a note that the same head appears on his device. There is an earlier registration of a Japanese dragon's head to Ryugen Morite in the LoAR of October 1983. As it has been 20 years since this charge was last registered, it must be documented as a charge under SENA's rules. Chinese dragon's heads are not found in European heraldry, and so fall under SENA A2B4, "Elements which are a Step from Period Practice."

Allowed steps from period practice fall under a handful of categories, including non-European armorial elements, non-European plants and animals, other European artifacts, and certain post-period elements. This is neither a European artifact, nor an allowable post-period element, nor a non-European plant or animal, which leaves us with non-European armorial elements.

When Chinese dragons were ruled a step from period practice, our access to and knowledge of Eastern armorial equivalents was severely limited. Since then, we have learned much, and several scholarly books and articles have been published, but we have yet to find any examples of Chinese dragons in any period artwork that may be construed as armorial in nature. They are an artistic motif. We don't have a pattern in SENA or precedents that allow for European artistic motifs, let alone non-European motifs (in fact, SENA A2B5 specifically includes artistic elements that are not found in heraldry i.e. Celtic knotwork and Greek "key" patterns). It would appear that Chinese dragon's heads should likewise fall under this category.

By this return we are explicitly disallowing Chinese dragon's heads, absent evidence which demonstrates use of the motif in an armorial context. Given SENA's rules about steps from period practice, we must also cease consideration of Chinese dragons for all armory submitted after the May 2018 LoAR, unless evidence can be provided of their use in an armorial context."

https://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2017/08/17-08lar.html

March 2015 - tomoe

[#57] Miura no Matatarou Koreyoshi. Badge. Argent, five tomoe in annulo each charged with a plate, all within an annulet sable. This device is returned for running afoul of SENA A that states "The armorial elements, charge groups, and overall design must be demonstrated to be compatible with period style." In an attempt as Individually Attested Pattern, this submission documented uncharged tomoe in annulo in groups of three. However, it did not document tomoe in groups of five or charged tomoe. Tomoe in groups of three may be registerable with a step from period practice. However, pending documentation, the arrangement submitted here is not. On redesign, please advise the submitter to draw the annulet larger so that it is clearly visible.

• http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2015/03/15-03lar.html#57

July 2014 - imperial chyrsanthemum restricted:

From Wreath: Adding the Japan Emperor mon to the list of restricted charges

A submission considered this month was using a charge of a sixteen-petalled lotus affronty which led to discussion about the mon of the emperor of Japan. Discussion brought to light the fact that the current protected form of the mon is not accurately reflecting actual usage. At this point, we are reblazoning it and adding it to the list of restricted charges as a sixteen-petalled chrysanthemum. http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/2014/07/14-07cl.html

February 2003 - Japanese stream:

"Previous precedents have indicated that design elements which are only found in Japanese mon may only be registered if they can be blazoned in European heraldic terms. Previous precedent has also held that a Japanese stream cannot be blazoned in European heraldic terms. No evidence has been presented which either overturns the philosophical basis of the previous precedents, or which presents an acceptable European blazon for the Japanese stream. Thus, the Japanese stream design element continues to be unregisterable." February 2003 LoAR

October 2002 LoAR - kitsune:

Abe Akirakeiko (Oct 2002, Atlantia): Per pale azure and vert, a three-tailed fox passant argent and in base three millrinds two and one Or. [The three-tailed fox is presumably meant to be a kitsune, Japanese shape-shifting fox.] [2002 LoAR]

November 1992 - tomoe:

"In general, Mon-like designs are acceptable in Society armory only if they can be blazoned in European heraldic terms - as though a period Japanese, visiting Europe, were attempting to register his Mon with one of the kings of arms. Tomoe cannot be blazoned in European terms, and so cannot be considered compatible with European heraldry. This submission, though a splendid Japanese design, may not be registered in the Society." [but see March 2015 and SENA A2.B.4.a. above] November 1992 LoAR

June 1991 - kirin needs documentation

Thomas Hawkwood the Archer. Device. Quarterly counter-ermine and ermine, a kirin Or maintaining an arrow and a dove argent. There is no heraldic monster called a Kirin. There is a similar Chinese charge called a Ch'ilin (Chinese unicorn), but it doesn't look all that similar to the submission. As a consequence the blazon does not reproduce the emblazon, making this unregisterable. http://heraldry.sca.org/loar/1991/06/lar.html

Collected Precedents:

• 2nd Tenure of Elisabeth de Rossignol (April 2011 - August 2011) - Collected Armory Precedents
• 1st Tenure of Elisabeth de Rossignol (May 2005 - July 2008) - Collected Armory Precedents
• 2nd Tenure of François la Flamme (October 2004 - May 2005) - Collected Armory Precedents
• The Tenure of Shauna of Carrick Point (May 2004 - August 2004) - Collected Armory Precedents
• 1st Tenure of François la Flamme (August 2001 - April 2004) - Collected Armory Precedents
• The Tenure of Elsbeth Anne Roth (June 1999 - July 2001) - Collected Armory Precedents
• The Tenure of Jaelle of Armida (June 1996 - June 1999) - Single HTML Document
• 2nd Tenure of Da'ud ibn Auda (November 1993 - June 1996) -
  • the 1st part (Nov 1993 - June 1994) and
  • the 2nd part (July 1994 - June 1996)
• The Tenure of Bruce Draconarius of Mistholme (June 1992 - October 1993) - Collected precedents
• 1st Tenure of Da'ud ibn Auda (June 1990 - June 1992) -
  • the 1st year (June 1990 - June 1991) and
  • the 2nd year (July 1991 - June 1992)
• The Tenure of Alisoun MacCoul of Elphane (September 1986 - June 1990) - Collected Precedents
• The Tenure of Baldwin of Erebor (August 1984 - August 1986) - Single HTML Document
• The Tenure of Wilhelm von Schlüssel (August 1979 - August 1984) - Collected Precedents
• The Tenure of Karina of the Far West (December 1975 - June 1979) - Collected Precedents
• The Early Days (June 1971 - June 1975) - Collected Precedents

The Ordinary:

• add section link

WARNING: Do not cite this page as a reference. This page is on this wiki only to make the content "searchable" and easier to find. If you find the information you seek here, go to the original sources (generally linked) to verify the information and use them for your documentation.