America The shield comes from the coat of arms of the United States. Within the shield there are stars and stripes, a nickname for the American flag, where the stars represent the states and the stripes the original colonies. Inside the heraldry the stripes come up to support the chief (containing the stars) to symbolize the states who stand to support the Congress matching the motor of the United States E pluribus unum (Out of many, one).
Aztecs The double-headed serpent comes from a turquoise mosaic. The mosaic is in the British Museum and is thought to be one of the gifts from Moctezuma II to Hernan Cortes. The serpent was an important symbol to the Aztecs. It was likely a symbol of rebirth due to its ability to shed its old skin and appear reborn. Additionally, the serpent was key to the pantheon of gods as many had serpent-like qualities, most notably the extremely important feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl.
Brazil The symbol comes directly from the Brazilian flag. The design is a green field with a gold diamond. The green represented the House of Braganza of Pedro I and the gold the House of Habsburg of Empress Maria Leopoldina (Pedros wife). Within the gold diamond is a disk (blue on the actual flag) that contains stars positioned to reflect the sky of Rio de Janerio on November 15, 1889.
China The dragon was frequently used by the Emperor of China as a symbol of imperial power. During the Qing dynasty the national flag featured the Azure Dragon. Additionally, it was a large part of Chinese mythology and folklore. The dragon was a powerful creature and a symbol of power, strength, and good luck and it remains part of the Chinese zodiac. In the West the dragon is a national emblem of China.
Egypt The eye is the Wedjat (the green one) now called The Eye of Horus. The importance of the eye comes from a story when Set and Horus fought over the throne after Osiriss death. During the fight Set gouged out Horuss eye. Horus had the eye restored and then offered it to Osiris in hopes of restoring his life. The eye became to symbolize sacrifice, healing, restoration, and protection.
England The crown is a popular symbol of the monarchy. The crown is a stylized version of St. Edwards Crown which is one of the English Crown Jewels. Originally it belonged to Edward the Confessor but was sold during the English Civil War in 1642. The current version was restored in 1661. It is one of the senior Crown Jewels and is often regarded as the official coronation crown.
France The fleur-de-lis is a stylized version of a lily. It has been used all over Europe but has a particular association with the French monarchy. Legend states that Frankish monarch Clovis I was anointed with oil from the lily. Therefore, the fleur-de-lis represents the divine authority given to the ruler of France.
Germany The Iron Cross is a top military decoration used in Germany. The cross comes from the Black Cross of the Teutonic Order. From there it became established as the emblem of the Prussian and later German army. The Iron Cross then became an award for the Prussian and German military.
[No image] Greece The Capital letter Omega. It is the last letter in the 24 letter Greek alphabet. It translates to mean great o. Symbolically it is used to denote the last, end, or ultimate limit In a set. Typically it is used in contrast to alpha, the beginning.
Japan A stylized version of the Oda clan kamon. A kamon is the emblem used by different family or clans in Japan, similar to a coat of arms. The (ka)mon is likely a flowering quince. It is somewhat similar to the Imperial kamon, and national emblem, a stylized chrysanthemum.
Kongo A stylized version of a BaKongo ritual mask. The Kongo masks were used for important funerals, special initiation ceremonies, and for judgment court. Ritual masks were usually a Nkisi, or an object that contains spiritual power or that a spirit inhabits. People who exhibit exceptional human powers such as banganga, herbalists/healers, are believed to be a result of communing with the dead. A Nkisi was generally classified as of the above relating to sky, rain, and thunderstorms or of the below relating to earth and water.
Norway Three interlocked triangles is called the valknut. It is thought to symbolize Odins power to bind and unbind. The term is a modern usage for the symbol and the original name is unknown. The symbol was initially found on the Tangelgarda stone, a decorated stone, and the Oseberg ship, a Norwegian burial ship.
Scythia A stag holds a special importance to the Scythian people and may have been the crest of an important family. Unique to Scythian culture the stag is depicted with looped antlers. Additionally, the legs are tucked under it to give the impression of speed. These were found as the central ornament for shields and on burial sites.
Spain The bull has been held in high regard by a multitude of cultures and typically represents courage and strength. In Spain, the bull, notably the Osborne bull, has become the unofficial symbol of the country. There are 91 large black silhouetted bulls that watch over the roads and countryside. These initially were part of an advertising campaign but due to changing laws about advertisements were slated to be torn down; public outcry instead saw the country paint them all black as they had gained aesthetic or cultural significance.
Lisbon – Four wavy (horizontal zigzag) lines denote water and are found under a ship in the symbol of Lisbon. The symbol has been used in many different cultures, of note it is found in Egyptian hieroglyphics and is the zodiac symbol for Aquarius. Lisbon sits on the Atlantic Ocean and the mouth of the Tagus River making it an extremely important port city and as such is deeply connected to the water.
I also think it should be changed, but not necessarily to the Hojo Clan's symbol - who's to say Oda Nobunaga or Tokugawa won't be added as a second leader down the line? The best choice would be one that could represent all of Japan - specially since this game tries to represent Japan's history as a whole (Hojo, Samurai, Meiji Restoration, Electronics Factory), instead of just a specific era (like, say, the Sengoku period).
