KATABAMI History

KATABAMI HISTORY

鏡草方波見柔術一族

Katabami Clan roots goes back to the ancient warrior class, who adapted different patterns, flowers and crests
to represent their families, arts and beliefs. The 丸に剣片喰 Maruni Ken Katabami Mon ( Crest ) had greater appeal among the samurai clans, especially during the Heian period ( A.D. 794 - 1185 ).

“ KATABAMI ” means a wood sorrel.

In early days in Japan, the leaf of the wood sorrel was used to make a medicinal salve, and also to polish bronze mirrors; because of the latter use, it was also know as KAGAMI-GUSA or “ mirror plant ”.

The Story of " KATABAMI " :
In an old tale, When I grind a wood sorrel leaf and polish a mirror,
that the mirror shows a face of person to yearn for it.

" Wood Sorrel "

The fruit of the wood sorrel contains many seeds, and the plant is extremely
reproductive. In later centuries, some warriors who used the wood sorrel as an
emblem cited this characteristic as an auspicious token for the future
proliferation of their families.

流鏑馬
YABUSAME

Yabusame is Japanese horseback archery, a tradition that goes back well over 1000 years. The first samurai referred to their profession as "The Way of the Horse and Bow".

In Japan, the bow has been a symbol of power since ancient times.
The ability to draw a bow and shoot accurately, even in the heat of battle, was seen as the ultimate mark of a true samurai.

Ebira - Ancient Japanese archery quiver

“ Wood sorrel ” is almost always portrayed with sword blade devices as part of the design, either appearing tiny and integrated
into the central base of the leaf or in larger format between
each leaf or both. When appearing with swords separating the leaves, it is called KEN KATABAMI - Wood Sorrel with swords .