MINAMOTO, or GEN, the name of an ancient noble family in Japan, whose mem bers for naany centuries were military vassals of the mikados. Under the leadership of the Minamoto generals the whole of eastern and northern Japan, above the 36th parallel n. lat. was conquered, and the aboriginal tribes brought under the government of the imperial court at Kioto, and the brocade banner of the mikado was borne even into Yezo. The Minamoto family was founded by two grandsons of the 57th mikado, Seiwa, who reigned 859-76. From these princes, in two branches, have descended the hundreds of illustrious military characters whose names and exploits fill the annals of Japan. Among their living descendants are seventeen families of nobles of the imperial court. of whom are Iwakura, now premier, Ohara, Higashi, Kuze, and other prominent rulers. Their crest consists of three bamboo leaves surmounted by gentian flowers. See
YORITOMO.
a tall turret, used in Saracenic architecture. It contains a stair citse, and is divided into several stories, with balconies from which the priests summon the Mohammedans to prayer—bells not being permitted in their religima—and is termi nated with a spire or ornaniental finial. The minarets are amongst the most beautiful fea tures of -Mohammedan architecture, and are an invariable accompaniment of the mosques (q.v.). In India, minars, or pillars of victory, are frequently erected in connection with mosques; some of these are lofty and splendid monuments, that of Kootub, at Old Delhi.
being 48 feet 4 in. in diameter at base, and about 250 feet high. They are often built on a plan of a star-like form, and are divided into stories by projecting balconies, like the minarets.