16 Nov 2024 Garand Picture of the Day - SN No. 3

[Mark in Rochester]

The swastika is a symbol that has been used in China for thousands of years, and has had many meanings throughout history:

Neolithic symbol
The swastika was used in Neolithic China, predating the spread of Buddhism.

Symbol of good fortune
In 693, Empress Wu declared the swastika the "source of all good fortune".

Symbol of plurality, abundance, prosperity, and long life
In China and Japan, the swastika came to represent these concepts after the spread of Buddhism.

Symbol of Buddha's footsteps
In Buddhism, the swastika is known as manji and represents the Buddha's footprints. It is often placed at the beginning and end of inscriptions.

Symbol of the Ti?nmén or Ti?nsh?
The swastika can also represent the Ti?nmén ("Gate of Heaven") or Ti?nsh? ("Pivot of Heaven").

The swastika has also been used in many other cultures and religions, including Hinduism, Jainism, Odinism, and Native American tribes. However, the swastika's use became associated with the Nazi Party in Germany after 1918, and its use as the national flag during the Third Reich stigmatized it around the world