X K X 



192 SECRETS OF EARTH AND SEA 



or curled spirally as in B, when it is called an "ogee." 

 The arms of the Swastika are sometimes bent to the 

 right as in Fig. 38, and sometimes to the left as in Fig. 39. 

 This difference does not appear to have any symbolic 

 significance, but to depend on the fancy of the artist. 



In Figs. 40 to 45 a few examples are shown of the 

 Swastika from various places and ages. It was in use 

 in Japan in ancient times, and is still common there and 

 in Korea. In China, where it is called " wan," it was at 

 one time used, when enclosed in a circle, as a character 

 or pictograph to signify the sun. It has been employed 

 in China from time immemorial to mark sacred or 



specially honoured 

 works of art, build- 

 ings, porcelain, 

 pictures, robes, and 

 A B is sometimes tattooed 



FIG. 39. Three simple varieties of the swas- on the hands, arms, 

 tika. A, the normal rectangular B the Qr ^^ ^ j^ 

 ogee variety (with spiral extremities). C, the . 

 curvilinear or "current "variety. it IS Widely used in 



decoration by both 



Buddhists and Brahmins; children have it painted on 

 their shaven heads, and it is introduced in various 

 ceremonies. The gigantic carved footprints of Buddha 

 from an Indian temple drawn in Fig. 40 show several 

 Swastikas on the soles of the feet and on the toes. In 

 the Near East and in Europe the Swastika is no longer 

 in use : it is not, in fact, popularly known. But in ancient 

 and very remote times it was in constant use in these 

 regions, especially by the Mykenaean people and those 

 who came under their influence, and also by the people 

 of the Bronze Age before the use of iron in Europe. 

 Fig. 41 shows a vase of Mykenaean age (about 1200 

 years B.C.) from Cyprus ornamented with Swastikas. 

 Hundreds of terra-cotta " spindle-whorls " like Fig. 42 



