Often, the background colour of the flag indicated which army unit the wearer belonged to, while different divisions in these armies emblazoned their own design or logo on it. The designs on sashimono were usually very simple geometric shapes, sometimes accompanied by Japanese characters providing the name of the leader or clan, the clan's mon, or a clan's slogan. Silk and leather were the most common materials used. While this arrangement was perhaps one of the most common, there were other variations. The banner hung from an L-shaped frame, which was attached to the chest armor dou or dЕЌ by a socket machi-uke or uketsubo near the waistline and hinged at shoulder level with a ring gattari or sashimono-gane. From the Return of the Samurai Exhibit Victoria B.C. A battle flag worn on the back of a samurai armor as a means of identification. ( Uma-jirushi and nobori are still used today at sports events, as Japanese versions of the banners common among Western sports audiences.)ДЄntique Edo period Japanese (Samurai) sashimono. Similar to this were the very large and narrow nobori banners, which commonly took two or three men to hold erect and were used to control the direction of fighting during large battles. A variation that is often bigger and coloured is the uma-jirushi, which were large, personalized, sashimono-like flags worn by commanders. The sashimono were typically black and white and came in either square or short rectangular forms, although many variations existed. Given the great variety in Japanese armour, sashimono were used to provide a sense of вЂњuniformвЂќ to the armies.

The banners, resembling small flags and bearing clan symbols, were most prominent during the Sengoku period-a long period of civil war in Japan from the middle 15th to early 17th century. Sashimono were worn both by foot soldiers - including common soldiers, known as ashigaru, as well as the elite samurai and members of the shogunate - and in special holders on the horses of some cavalry soldiers. Sashimono poles were attached to the backs of the chest armor ( dЕЌ) by special fittings.

How to make a sashimono