Cross Cultural Comparison of Swastika

East

It is used as a symbol of religion and well being Swastika has been the religion symbol for the last 12000

years in the east

Hinduism Represents the form of Brahma Found all over Hindu Temples in the form of signs, altars, picture, iconography Most Commonly used Religious Symbol in Indian Households
I.

II. Buddhism Swastika was brought from India to the oriental countries in 5th Century BC

It was called manji or wan in mandarin, man in Korea and van in Japan & Vietnam Meaning All Eternities The symbol of philanthropic association in China called Red Swastik Society

III. Jainism
More prominently used than in Hinduism Symbol of the 7th Jina or Saint

Cross Cultural Comparison of Swastika

West

Period before Nazis It was mostly used as a good luck charm, worn on medals Swastika greetings were sent for best wishes and good luck The British Author Rudyard Kipling also had Swastika inscribed on all his books Also a symbol used by Scouts in Britain.

Use of Swastika by the Nazis

Adopted by the Nazi Party as the official emblem
Represented the struggle for victory by the pure Aryan

race which made the Swastika the symbol of racism. High investment in Military beliefs Became a symbol of rise of Fascism( alienating democracy, liberalism and Marxism). Nazi flags bearing the Swastika was used in Jewish concentration camps and all areas of Nazi invasion

In RED, we see the social idea of the movement, in WHITE the nationalistic idea, In the SWASTIKA, the mission of the struggle for the victory of the Aryan man, and, By the same token, the victory of the idea of creative work, which as such always has Been & always will be anti-Semitic

After Nazi
Change in perception

Due to popular usage, adopted by Hitler on the new

Nazi flag Became a symbol of the Ancient Aryan Race Created concept of racial purity People in the West immediately started connecting Swastika with the Nazi leading to anti Nazism

Nintendo, a Japanese computer games giant had to withdraw a POKEMON TRADING CARD featuring Swastika(manji) in 1999 from western markets. In 2002, Chinese manufacturer, Walpert, personally called some of the people in Canada who received the toy pandas having a Swastika symbol on them. The pandas were Christmas crackers. In 2003, Microsoft offered an apology for its,' unintentional oversight that caused two Swastiks to be included in a font in its new Office Suite.

In 2005, the photographs of British prince Harry in a costume with a Swastika armband in Wiltshire created a furore & the prince has to issue a statement in apology.

In 2006, a court in Stuttgart fined a 32 year old man more than $8700 for selling Anti-Nazi Badges. The fashion firm Espirit was forced to recall 200000 catalogues having accusations that British made Buttons appearing in their new collection had Swastika designs.

Causes for Change in Perception

Swastika was the symbol of Facism which rejected

ideologies of democracy, liberalism and marxism Swastika became the symbol of Hitlers ambition who was against capitalism and socialism. Hence, alienating the countries following these beliefs The Nazis were responsible for death of 11 million men, women and children; thus Swastika became the death symbol

Contd.. The activities of Nazis led to the break up of Germany in 1945 causing great embarrasment to a once great country
This changed the German perception towards its own political party

Thank you