Uesugi bamboo grass tea towel

The bamboo sparrow crest was a family crest used by the Kajuji family, a kuge (court noble), and the Uesugi clan, a samurai family. Therefore, its distribution is limited to areas related to the Kajuji family and the Uesugi clan. The Kajuji family was based in Kyoto, while the Uesugi clan was based in Sagami and expanded to Musashi, Kozuke, Echigo, and Ou. However, this crest was treated as a crest of honor, second only to the peony, and was rarely given to vassals, so its distribution is localized, unlike crests like the tomoe and the nine-star crest. (From "Japanese Crests") The drawing was created with reference to various crest books, and the sparrow's beak is depicted in an a-un (open-mouthed and closed-mouthed) state. (2013/4/1)