Hojo Scales 6 Cm Round Badge

The Hojo family crest was used by the Hojo clan during the early Kamakura period. According to the Taiheiki, when Hojo Tokimasa visited Enoshima Benzaiten, he obtained three scales left behind by a giant snake and used three scales on his flag in commemoration. (from "Nihon no Monsho" edited by Kosaku Ito); The Taiheiki describes the Hojo family's three-scale crest as being modeled after a dragon's scales. Like the diamond pattern, this scale pattern evolved from a scale design, and this legend was likely added to give it a mystical significance. (from "Nihon Monshogaku" by Raisuke Numata)