The Ubiquitous “Yungdrung” Symbol
In Tibet, the swastika symbol, whether as a pattern or a sign, is ubiquitous. In the Tibetan language, the symbol “卍,” which is pronounced “wan” in Chinese, is called “Yungdrung.” For the Tibetan people, the swastika represents auspiciousness, a meaning it shares with the Han Chinese. We can refer to the “卍” as the “Yungdrung” auspicious symbol.
Historical and Religious Significance of the Swastika
Historically in Tibet, the swastika is closely linked to religion, both the original Bon religion and later Tibetan Buddhism. In the primitive Bon religion, the “卍” was a symbol of good fortune. When Bon was established, it was called “Yungdrung Bon,” the script used was called “Yungdrung” divine writing, the places where Bon was practiced were known as “Nine Level Yungdrung Mountains” and “Yungdrung Sand Dunes.” Even the staffs of the Bon ancestors were decorated with “Yungdrung” auspicious designs, and Bon monasteries were often built in places with natural “卍”-shaped patterns. After Buddhism was introduced to Tibet, the “卍” was also widely used. All Buddha images have the auspicious symbol on their chests. However, there is a difference in how the Bon religion and Tibetan Buddhism use the “卍”: in Bon, the “卍” rotates counterclockwise, while in Buddhism, it rotates clockwise. If you visit a monastery for a kora (circumambulation), you must first determine whether it is a Bon or Buddhist monastery, otherwise, if you turn in the wrong direction, the wish you want to express is for naught.
The Swastika in Daily Tibetan Life
The swastika meaning extends into the daily lives of Tibetans, becoming an integral part of their culture. As an auspicious symbol, the “卍” can be found everywhere: on the walls, doors, and windows of homes; embroidered on tents; painted in kitchens; and embroidered on clothing. Women in their zodiac year, in particular, will have a large “卍” embroidered on the back of their clothing. Furniture is also often painted with “卍,” and it’s frequently present in Thangka paintings. Besides being used as a standalone symbol, the “卍” can be connected to form long or square patterns, expressing meanings such as longevity. In summary, the “卍” symbol expresses different meanings depending on where it’s used. For example, when drawn on a foundation, it asks that the house built be sturdy; when drawn on a door, it asks for protection from natural and man-made disasters; when drawn in the kitchen, it asks that the kitchen god protect the family; and when carried on one’s back, it asks that everything go well. All of this can be summarized to a single goal: to ask for the realization of the Tibetan people’s most beautiful wishes.
A Symbol Beyond Religion
Although the original meaning of the “卍” auspicious symbol has religious connotations, it is, in fact, not only a part of the religious lives of the Tibetan people but also part of their social lives, deeply rooted in their minds and even serving as a standard for their aesthetics.
The Swastika’s Global Presence
Indeed, the Yungdrung symbol is not unique to the Tibetan plateau civilization. Many ancient civilizations around the world have used this symbol, including Mesopotamia in the Near East, ancient Egypt, ancient India, and ancient Greece. Similar patterns can also be found in the Native American cultures of North America and the Mayan cultures of Central America. The Yungdrung character, which appeared at least in the early Neolithic period, is not only one of the oldest primitive symbols but also an auspicious pattern that has endured through the Bronze Age and even into the age of civilization.
The Swastika’s Enduring Legacy in Tibet
Although the Yungdrung symbol appeared very early in some of the world’s ancient civilizations and was a common early auspicious symbol in many regions, it is rare for it to maintain its vitality and continue to serve as a symbolic symbol of a regional civilization. It seems to exist only in Tibetan culture.
While the impression of the Yungdrung symbol in Tibet is that its different rotational directions represent different religions of the plateau (Bon or Buddhism), in terms of the historical timeline, the Yungdrung symbol was already widely popular in most of the plateau long before Buddhism entered the region. They were spread to different corners of the plateau by the indigenous religion of the plateau—Bon.
The fact that 卍 and 卍 became symbols of Bon and Buddhism, respectively, in the plateau’s religions is a relatively later development. To be precise, it was after Buddhism entered the plateau that they gradually became customary in order to clearly distinguish between Buddhist and Bon practices.
Symbolism and Combinations of the Swastika
The images combined with the Yungdrung symbol are mainly divided into two categories. One category consists of specific production and life objects, such as animals, tents, bows and arrows, and flags. These images represent various aspects of the daily lives of nomadic peoples. Animals represent food, tents represent dwellings, flags may symbolize a clan or tribe, and bows and arrows may signify successful hunting. These images, which represent the production and life of the people on the plateau, combined with the Yungdrung symbol, clearly mean to seek or bless their well-being and auspiciousness with the special power of the Yungdrung symbol.
The other category of images combined with the Yungdrung symbol also belongs to religious symbols, such as the sun, moon, trees, pagodas, and birds. We noticed that the Yungdrung symbol is often combined with these special symbols to jointly complete the early spiritual life prayers and blessings of the people on the plateau.
The Swastika in Buddhist Culture
The Yungdrung symbol is also widely used in Buddhist culture. The Yungdrung character, known in English as the swastika, is called Srivatsa in Sanskrit, and was formerly translated as “auspicious sea cloud phase,” meaning “the place where auspiciousness gathers.” During the Northern Wei Dynasty, Bodhiruci translated the “卍” as “wan” in the twelfth volume of his translation of the “Ten Stages Sutra Commentary”; while Kumārajīva and Xuanzang translated this symbol as “virtue,” taking the meaning of magnificent virtues, and emphasizing the immeasurable merits of the Buddha.
It is now generally believed that the “卍” character was pronounced “wan” by designation of Empress Wu Zetian in the second year of Changshou (693 AD). The Yungdrung symbol has two forms: the left-facing “卍” and the right-facing “卍”. Tang Hui Lin’s “All Sutra Sounds and Meanings” suggested that the “卍” should be the standard. Tibetan Buddhism regards the right-rotating “卍” as the proper form, which is the difference between how the “卍” symbol is used in the Han region and Tibet. Interestingly, the “卍” symbol of Han Chinese Buddhism is consistent with the “卍” symbol worshiped by the ancient Tibetan religion—Bon.
The Swastika’s Enduring Role in Tibetan Culture
In any case, although the Yungdrung symbol has undergone differentiation and variations, the fact that it consistently exists in Tibetan civilization and religion remains unchanged. It is deeply rooted in the fertile soil of plateau culture and plays an important role in the spiritual lives of the people on the plateau.
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