Minamoto Clan kamon with clan name T-Shirt

Minamoto (源) was one of the surnames bestowed by the Emperors of Japan upon members of the imperial family who were excluded from the line of succession and demoted into the ranks of the nobility. The practice was most prevalent during the Heian period (794–1185 AD), although its last occurrence was during the Sengoku period. The Taira were another such offshoot of the imperial dynasty, making both clans distant relatives. The Minamoto clan is also called the Genji (源氏), using the Sino-Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese characters for Minamoto and family. The Minamoto were one of four great clans that dominated Japanese politics during the Heian period — the other three were the Fujiwara, the Taira, and the Tachibana. This is the kamon (family crest) of the Minamoto clan, Sasa Rindo (笹竜胆) or "Gentiana flowers upon bamboo". Below the crest is "Minamoto" in kanji.