swastika

The right-angled cross motif we call the swastika has an ancient history as a good luck motif, before the Nazis appropriated it. In Japan, it is associated with Buddhist temples. The Japanese version usually faces left, whereas the Nazi swastika faces right.

left and right facing

swastika

temple roof tile

manji motif

temple roof tile

temple signifier

map indicating temples with manji

swastika fretwork pattern