The great flag hunt!

[Kagemusha]

We are going to need tons of sashimono, Uma Jirushi and Noboris.So if you can find any it would be great! you can post links but if some one can find or scan individual flags also, please post the flag and the owners name.:bow:

[Helgi]

http://www.ospreysamurai.com/images/samurai_heraldry.jpg Tsugaru Nobuhira at Hirosaki Castle, 1610. The Tsugaru family became dominant in the far north of Japan, a position they strengthened by their support for the Tokugawa family at the time of Sekigahara. In this plate Tsugaru Nobuhira (1586-1631) marches proudly through the snow to take possession of his newly built castle of Hirosaki. The most prominent motif is his mon of a swastika, which appears in red on the jingasa helmets and breastplates of the lowly ashigaru, and in gold upon the red sashimono of the samurai. Red swastikas also appear on the numerous white nobori flags. The o uma jirushi uses different religious symbolism: a huge, gold-lacquered, three- dimensional shakujo, the metal-ringed rattle used by the itinerant members of a mountain-based Buddhist sect to drive wild animals away during their pilgrimages through the high country. The heavy standard is socketed and tied to the back of a strong soldier and steadied by extra ropes; note the double red sashimono of the rope men. Carried behind Tsugaru, wearing his characteristic antlered helmet, is his lesser standard, a flag bearing a gold disc on white. (© Osprey Publishing Limited, artwork by from Samurai Heraldry (http://www.ospreysamurai.com/book_eli82.htm?title=S3047&ser=ELI) (Elite 82) by Stephen Turnbull (http://www.ospreysamurai.com/turnbull.htm))

http://www.samurai-archives.com/mon.html
http://www.samurai-archives.com/crest1.html
http://www.samurai-archives.com/title.html
http://folk.uio.no/arnsteio/samurai/takeda/YamagataMasakage.shtml
http://folk.uio.no/arnsteio/samurai/takeda/TakedaNobukado.shtml
http://folk.uio.no/arnsteio/samurai/takeda/TakedaNobushige.shtml
http://folk.uio.no/arnsteio/samurai/takeda/ObuToramasa.shtml
http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/e-expert.html

The various patterns and colors of the banners symbolize the strength and spirit of the Nomaoi Festival

@Nomaoi was originally a Shinto ceremony and a training exercise for military preparation. As such, the armament used was ornate. Likewise, the thousands of various flags designed added meaning and significance to the rituals and training.
The banners also symbolize the unified heart and strength of the warriors-farmers-artisans-tradesmen classes in the Soma regions. In ancient times the flag representing the three heavenly bodies (sun, moon, star) was considered the most sacred banner; however, Nomaoi incorporates many different flags, such as the "sun disk on a black field," "full yellow moon on a purple field," nine luminaries," "seven luminaries," "half moon," "crescent moon," and "three stars." The Hachiman bodhisattva banner, awarded to the Soma clan by the famous Minamoto no Yoritomo, is also used.
There are thousands of other flags, all with varying colors and designs. Because of the large number of flags, Nomaoi can also be called the "Banner Festival."
The Nomaoi banners symbolize the families of the Soma region and serve as ceremonial pieces in the rites performed at the Shinto shrines. All the banners have a long, proud history and tradition, and are thus considered precious cultural assets.
@* Flags of the daimyo's stronghold procession (http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/e-expert.html#1) @ * Flags of the Shinto Shrine procession (http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/e-expert.html#2)* Flags of the Soma region (http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/e-expert.html#3)* Two highly praised treasures available for purchase! (http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/e-expert.html#4)
http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/nomaoi/img/line.gif

@
http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/nomaoi/img/kaku-d.gif@Flags of the Daimyo's stronghold procession @http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/nomaoi/img/kaku-d.gifhttp://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata1.gif"Staff Officers Banner":
Assisting the Chief and Vice Chief of Staff and leading their own units, the staff officers also carry a three-colored flag/whip as a sign of their command. This "descending centipede" banner belongs to the staff officer of Naka no go.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata2.gif"Messenger Banner":
Messengers transmit orders from the superior officers to all the warriors in the procession. This role is extremely important, and as such the banner is clearly marked for everyone to see.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata3.gif"Squad Leaders Banner":
Squad leaders receive orders from superiors and gather together their own squad. The banner represents one of the five elements between heaven and earth: blue - wood, red - fire, yellow - earth, white - gold, and black - water. The background color of this banner is one of these five colors, and the "descending horse" is white.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata4.gif"Sub-squad Leaders Banner":
Assist the Squad Leader and keep the unit in order. The banner is white with the "descending horse." Near the bottom, an area of about 12 centimeters in height is colored the same as the Squad Leader's banner.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata5.gif"Chief of Staff Banner":
Responsible for strategy, he is the Supreme Commander. His is the pivotal role of the force.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata27.gif"Tri-color Banner":
This flag is made up of three colors: red for Soma Ota Shrine, yellow for Soma Odaka Shrine, and white for Soma Nakamura Shrine. It symbolizes the three shrines' role as advocator in restoring the Nomaoi tradition.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata6.gif"Shrine Banner":
Soma Ota Shrine, Soma Odaka Shrine, and Soma Nakamura Shrine each would have their shrine name written in black on the flag.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata7.gif"Shrine Standard":
Each shrine also bears their "standard," a white flag for Soma Nakamura, a red flag for Soma Ota, and a yellow flag for Soma Odaka shrines.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata8.gif"Kita Go's Standard":
Kita Go received this flag for meritorious service in the Nomaoi during the Meiji Period. It is the ancient commander's fan of Okada Kenmotsu of the Soma family.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata10.gif"Five color Banners":
Flags of the daimyo's headquarters, representing the five elements between heaven and earth. Blue - wood, red - fire, yellow - earth, white - gold, and black - water.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata11.gif"Nine Luminaries Banner":
This is the family crest of the Soma clan. It represents the religious faith of the Soma clan ancestor, Taira Masakado, in the nine luminaries. These nine luminaries are either the North Star and the seven stars of the Big Dipper constellation, or the sun, moon, five planets, and two stars. The clan prayed to these stars for good fortune in war and the prosperity of the clan's descendants.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata12.gif"Banner of the Lord's Ancestry":
One kind of a square crest flag, it contains a scarlet square on a black field. It represents the past generations of ancestors, and honors the ancestral feudal lords.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata13.gif"Golden Label Banner":
This flag represents the economic strength of the clan. It contains a golden label on a white field. The banner is a symbol of the shogunate administrator of accounts.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata14.gif"Long Snake Banner":
At the feet of the Myoken bodhisattva image is a coiled white snake. Thus the long, coiled snake is used on this flag to represent the Buddhist saint. Upon arriving at the daimyo's headquarters, this flag is hoisted inside.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata15.gif"Tethered Horse Banner":
It is said that Taira Masakado would confine himself to a shrine to pray to the Myoken bodhisattva. The sign that his prayers would be answered was the neighing of a nearby tethered horse. This flag is in honor of this history.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata26.gif"Commander-in-Chief Banner":
This is the flag of the feudal clan used at the lord's troop headquarters. Since Taira Masakado, it has been passed down within the Soma family for generations for military use. It is likened to a national flag for the Soma region.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata16.gif"White-belted Banner":
These banners are placed along the borders of the daimyo's stronghold. It is said that in the past, many of these flags were put up to show the enemy that the daimyo had many allies.@@http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/nomaoi/img/line.gif@http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/nomaoi/img/kaku-d.gif@Flags of the Shinto Shrine procession @http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/nomaoi/img/kaku-d.gifhttp://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata17.gif"Imperial Standard":
Long flags with the sun and moon embroidered in gold.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata18.gif"The God of War's Banner":
Awarded to the Soma Lord's ancestor, Morotsune, for meritorious service to Minamoto no Yoritomo in quelling the Tohoku uprising.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata19.gif"Jizo Guardian Deity Banner":
Jizo bodhisattva is said to appear on the battlefield armed, and was worshipped by samurai warriors. It was believed Jizo would rescue the soldiers from hunger and misfortune, and bring victory to the force.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata20.gif"Suwa Daimyojin Deity Banner":
From ancient times, Suwa Daimyojin was the guardian deity of military affairs. In reverence to this deity, the Soma Lord used this banner.@@http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/nomaoi/img/line.gif@http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/nomaoi/img/kaku-d.gif@Flags of the Soma region @http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/nomaoi/img/kaku-d.gifhttp://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata21.gif"Uda go Banner":
A white circle on a red field. Placed on the north side of Hibari-ga Hara. Uda go's encampment.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata22.gif"Odaka Banner":
A black circle on a white field. Placed on the south side of Hibari-ga Hara. Odaka's encampment.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata23.gif"Kita go Banner":
A red circle on a white field. Placed on the north side of Hibari-ga Hara. Kita go's encampment.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata24.gif"Shineha go Banner":
A red circle on a light blue field. Placed on the south side of Hibari-ga Hara. Shineha go's encampment.http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/english/nomaoi/img/hata25.gif"Naka no go Banner":
The sun and moon on a red field. Placed on the south side of Hibari-ga Hara. Naka no go's encampment.@http://www.city.haramachi.fukushima.jp/nomaoi/img/line.gif

[Kraxis]

Nice... but could you please arrange the pics so they appear on new lines?

[Myrddraal]

Ask and yea shall recieve or what?

Lots of info there.... :wink:

[Kagemusha]

Yep. This is exactly what i wanted.~:)

[Helgi]

http://imagescommerce.bcentral.com/merchantfiles/5003576/scf402.jpg
http://imagescommerce.bcentral.com/merchantfiles/5003576/scf401.jpg
http://imagescommerce.bcentral.com/merchantfiles/5003576/scf400.jpg
http://imagescommerce.bcentral.com/merchantfiles/5003576/scm302h.jpghttp://imagescommerce.bcentral.com/merchantfiles/5003576/SCM305.jpg
http://www.trocadero.com/MONTES/items/460454/catphoto.jpg (http://www.trocadero.com/MONTES/items/460454/en1store.html) http://www.trocadero.com/MONTES/items/429096/catphoto.jpg (http://www.trocadero.com/MONTES/items/429096/en1store.html)
http://www.trocadero.com/MONTES/items/436820/catphoto.jpg (http://www.trocadero.com/MONTES/items/436820/en1store.html)

[Helgi]

http://www.tedtoy.com/samurai.htm
http://www.tedtoy.com/images/monarch_007.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/monarch_337.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/monarch_006.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/monarch_008.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/monarch_009.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/monarch_253.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/hondabanner243.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/Hondabanner244.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/monarch.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/monarch_321.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/monarch_320.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/shimazubanner246.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/shimazubanner247.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/File0001.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/monarch_295.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/monarch_298.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/monarch_242.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/ISHBAN1.JPGhttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/monarch_236.jpghttp://www.tedtoy.com/images/datebanner252_small.jpg (http://www.tedtoy.com/images/datebanner252.jpg)
http://www.tedtoy.com/images/216DA1.JPG

[Marshal Murat]

I read that the centipede was the symbol of a messanger.