not a swastika, a sun sign
Posted by Amy L on March 14, 2000 at 18:54:20:
In Reply to: Re: question about a symbol on henna pattern posted by christine on March 14, 2000 at 18:43:10:
I don't know the comprehensive history (catherine? :) but I know the
swastika is a VERY old symbol found in many cultures. It has nothing
to do with hatred - some cultures, especially Central American tribes
(and I think even the Uygurs in China, as per an NGS article on the
Silk Road), treated it as a stylized sun glyph. Some, including the
Japanese, interpret it as a good fortune sign. Don't know its Indian
history. It's certainly lamentable that Hitler took a positive symbol
and gave it such nasty connotations.
