Coat of arms - Monshoi

Japanese: 紋章衣 - もんしょうい

European heraldic arms first appeared in southwestern France in the early 12th century, when the knighting system was born, and quickly spread to other regions. For Crusader knights, they were an essential participation badge, and were attached to the shields, flags, and helmets of each order of knights, as well as to the cloaks and surcoats worn over their chain mail. From the 13th to the 15th centuries, the heraldic clothing that was established in this way became linked to the customs of feudal society, which valued family background and status, and spread to the general clothing of members of knightly families, both men and women, and the designs of the coats of arms became complex and diverse, sometimes incorporating the family crests of both spouses.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

ヨーロッパの紋章は，騎士制度が生まれた12世紀初頭，まず南西フランスに出現し，急速に各地に普及する。十字軍騎士にとっては，それが不可欠の参加章で，騎士団ごとに楯，旗，冑ばかりか，鎖帷子（かたびら）の上に着るマントやシュルコ(陣羽織)にもつけられた。こうして成立した紋章衣は，13世紀から15世紀にかけて，家柄や身分を重んずる封建社会の風習と結びつき，男女を問わず，騎士家系の家族一般の衣服に及び，紋章の意匠も，夫妻の双方の家紋が交わるなどして，複雑多彩になっていった。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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