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 Fig. 54. —The 

 national flag of Korea. A single one "Tomoye" -the 



- ,, . , . .J J Japanese badge 01 



of these curious, tapermg, one-sided triumph, 

 cones is closely similar to the cone- 

 like figures sometimes called "pines" which one sees 

 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, S 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 

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