By Allie Cohen
For any individual who identifies as Jewish, the swastika is interchangeable with fear, suppression, and extermination. Yet for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains, the swastika represents something entirely different – it is one of peace and good fortune. Today in America and Western countries, most people associate the swastika with the former, but for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains across the world, the swastika’s meaning still holds the same as its original intended use.
Last week, I wrote an article highlighting some of Zara’s most explicit antisemitic clothing distributed in the past 20 years. One of those articles of clothing included a bag with four green swastikas incorporated into them. While the supplier of the bag was Indian, Zara, whose parent company is Inditex, is owned by Amancio Ortega, a Spanish, Roman Catholic. Therefore, because it was distributed by a person with no affiliation to Hinduism, Buddhism, or Jainism, the bag can be interpreted as signifying the Western interpretation of the swastika. While Zara eventually removed the bag, this instance encompasses a long-standing issue: the continuous displacement of swastikas in Westernized countries is negating the Jewish people’s struggles and perpetuating antisemitism.
The History of the Swastika
To understand the context in which a swastika fits into Western culture, it’s important to know its history. According to the BBC, “the word swastika comes from the Sanskrit roots su (good) and asti (to prevail), meaning well-being, prosperity, or good fortune.” “The oldest identified swastika pattern of the world is found on a small ivory figurine of a female bird, which dates back to 15,000 years ago,” according to another article published by the BBC, The swastika also holds various meanings, depending on the religious sector. Specifically, the swastika is known as the manji in Japanese, where the emblem signifies the Buddha’s footsteps, while to Jains it means a spiritual teacher. Archeological evidence also points to the fact that swastikas were not only used throughout Asia but also in much of Europe. Specifically, swastikas began to appear across south-eastern Europe around 7,000 years ago and became widespread in the Bronze Age, and were also used as a symbol of positivity. Specifically, textile fragments found from the 12th Century A.D. on a dress collar embroidered with gold crosses and swastikas to ward off evil indicate the use of the symbol of positivity in Europe.
The swastika’s violation occurred in the 19th century, when German scholars, who were reading old Indian texts, noticed similarities between their language and Sanskrit and concluded that Indians and Germans must have had a shared ancestry. These scholars imagined a race of white god-like warriors – which they called Aryans – prompting them to use the swastika as the symbol of the Nazi regime. From then on, this violation of the swastika forever complicated its meaning.
Important Note
There are distinct differences between the Buddhists, Jains, and Hindus swastika as opposed to the Nazis. For example, Hitler’s version has an “X” at its center, while the Buddhist version—called manji in Japanese—has a plus sign. Additionally, Hitler never actually called this particular symbol a “swastika; instead “he always said Hakenkreuz,” or “hooked cross.”
Where it Stands Today
All definitions are subject to the person who influences their meaning, to current socio-political environments, and are always up for revision. In the context of the swastika, this holds true. Specifically, while the swastika has no place to be sold by a Western-owned company to customers in Westernized countries, it does not mean that swastikas will never have a place in society or Western society. Rather, it means that context and timing do matter. For example, after selling a Buddhist swastika pendant necklace in 2020, Shein, who is owned by Nanjing Lingtian Information Technology Co., Ltd, a Chinese-based company, received much backlash. However, because Shein is a Chinese-based company, its distribution of the swastika holds an inherently different meaning from Zara, as China has the world’s largest Buddhist population. Therefore, while it is more appropriate for Shein to sell a swastika as opposed to Zara, because of the current socio-political environments we’re in, it’s still viewed as insensitive, and ignorant, and helps perpetuate antisemitism & hate. Despite personally being a proponent for redefining and reclaiming the swastika myself, this process cannot occur until the symbol is no longer used as a symbol of hate on a wide scale (which it still is).
It should be noted that while Buddhists, Jains, and Hindus live in Western countries because they are not the predominant religion within these countries, the swastika does not have a place in fashion or the mainstream in these countries.
Specifically, in 2017, Neo-Nazis marched in a Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville, inciting violence and fear toward Jews and racial minorities. Accompanying those at the march included the Nazi insignia; Along with chants of “Jews will not replace us,” and “blood and soil.” Just last year, we saw Capitol rioters showcase their extremist apparel, where much of this apparel again featured swastikas. Clearly, the swastika’s use as a symbol that provokes hate and fear is very prevalent in today’s society. With this in mind, if we allow swastikas to enter the mainstream in Western countries right now, then we are providing a catalyst for antisemitism and enabling extremist groups to exercise such hate. Additionally, if we allowed the swastika to enter the mainstream when it is still being used as a symbol of hate, then not only would we be negating its perverse use in the past, but also in the present. Finally, if people with no affiliations to the distinct cultures and religions associated with the positive use of the swastika start selling and wearing swastikas, they may use such a narrative to promote antisemitism under the guise of its peaceful meanings. Moreover, while it is not time to reclaim the swastika in Western countries yet, that does not mean that it will not and should not ever happen. Rather, in the process of reclaiming the swastika, people must be careful to not erase the ugly part of its history or ignore its current place in socio-political environments in Westernized countries.
