CHAPTER XIX 

 THE TOMOYE AND THE SWASTIKA 



FIG. 54 represents a remarkable design which is a 

 sort of national emblem, a universally accepted 

 badge of triumph and honour in Japan, and is called 

 " Tomoye " meaning " triumph." The black and white 

 portions are in that country painted respectively red and 

 yellow. It is simply a circle divided 

 into two equal cone-like figures by the 

 inscription within it of a doubly-curved 

 line like the letter S. Where and how 

 did the Japanese get this badge? who 

 invented it, or from what natural object 

 is it copied ? A modified Tomoye with 

 the cones dislocated is used as the 

 national flag of Korea. A single one 

 of these curious, tapering, one-sided 

 cones is closely similar to the cone- 

 like figures sometimes called " pines " 

 on Indian shawls. The origin of these is sometimes 

 said to be a copying of some fruit or vegetable growth, 

 but is really not ascertained and is possibly half of a 

 Tomoye ! A great circular altar-stone has been found in 

 Central America, 5 ft. across, divided by a deep S-shaped 

 groove into two equal one-sided cones (Fig. 59) like the 

 Tomoye. The figure formed by an S within a circle is 

 found in the writings of the ancient Chinese philosopher 

 Chu-Hsi. He gives a series of symbols representing 

 14 



FIG. 54. The 

 " Tomoye" the 

 Japanese badge or 

 triumph. 



which one sees 



