manji

An ancient religious symbol or mandala used in numerous cultures throughout history, including in Asia and Europe. It takes the form of a cross with four legs bent at 90-degree angles. The counterclockwise, or left-handed version (卍) is an auspicious symbol in Buddhism known in Japan as the manji. Many characters in Japanese media feature the symbol, especially if they are associated with Buddhism.

The manji is commonly mistaken by Westerners for the swastika, which is the clockwise, or right-handed version (卐) that was appropriated and modified by the Nazi Party as its emblem. That variant was rotated 45 degrees and set inside a white circle on a red background, a design known as the Hakenkreuz (hooked cross). Be careful not to mistake a manji for a swastika when tagging images.

Examples

Both manji (卐, 卍) compared to the swastika

The many manji variations found across the world

Poking fun at the visual similarity to the swastika

See also

• Buddhism
• Mandala
• Swastika
• Tag group:Symbols

External links

• Wikipedia: Swastika
• Wiktionary: 卍, 卐, स्वस्तिक