Genzou

Genjiguruma, Kuruma-mon, and cars are said to have existed since ancient times. Although it appears in "Nihonshoki" (Chronicles of Japan) as a document, it seems that it was used by the Emperor. During the Nara period, carts were also available, which were also used by common people. It is often seen in picture scrolls, but in the Heian period, gissha (ox-drawn carriage), a noble who was drawn to a cow, was also often seen. The design of the crests is based on this ox-drawn carriage. It was the beginning of the Kamakura period when the Kuruma-mon became established as a family crest. The Kuruma-mon has been called the Genji Kuruma-mon since before the Edo period. The Genji-guruma refers to the Gosho-guruma which is often seen in "Genji Monogatari Emaki" . There are also water wheels and windmill in addition to the Shimon, but the overwhelming majority of Genjikuruma were Genjikuruma, and the Shimon was thought to be Genjikuruma. (Source: "Kamon Chireba Chiriu Chiriu" written by Kiji NIWA