S.R. Turnbull (1988), '"Shorthand of the Samurai". The Use of Heraldry in the Armies of Sixteenth-Century Japan', Review. Japan Society, pp. 43-55.

Thesimplestformofheraldicdisplayistheuseofdifferent colouredflagsbyrivalarmies,andthechroniclesoftheGempei War(1180-1185),particularlyHeikeManagataricontainmany referencestotheTairausingredbannersforidentificationandthe Minamotousingwhite.Asanexamplewemaynotethetrick employedbyKisoYoshinakainthepreliminariestotheBattleof Kurikarain1183(Sadler1918&1921),whenheerectedthirty whitebannersonanearbyhilltoconvinceTairaKoremorithathe wassurroundedby~uperiorforces.Laterinthesameaccountwe readofthedefeatedTairasamuraiinKyoto"tearingofftheirred badges"tomaketheMinamotothinktheywerefriendly troops.