Vak (File:Vak (Vaka script).png: signs) are Ixanian emblems used to decorate and identify a family, clan, or individual. Vak is typically used as the umbrella term to denote all designs of the type, though vandak and vadik refer specifically to emblems representing families and clans. Vak are similar to the European coat of arms and the Japanese mon, both which serve many of the same purposes, identifying family ties and cultural backgrounds. These devices are typically referred to be Western literature as crests, which to are similar to the vak is function.