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| ==Origin== | ==Origin== | ||
| According to Storl, the Dharmachakra is an ancient ] symbol.{{sfn|Storl|2011|p=56}} In northern Europe it was depicted in the spinning wheel on which the three goddesses of faith, the ], spun out the destinies of all beings.{{sfn|Storl|2011|p=56}} According to Xiaojing Yan, the dharmachakra is of ] origin.<ref>http://books.google.com/books?id=7f9gS40A_3IC&pg=PA386&lpg=PA386&dq=%22dharma+chakra%22+hindu+wisdom&source=bl&ots=d_ZZrVf5LS&sig=4QchdguDc0UKFt1XjB2gEBRIMXw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=OqTUUs_LBuOayAH4tIGQCQ&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=%22dharma%20chakra%22%20hindu%20wisdom&f=false</ref>.{{cn|date=February 2013}} It is one of the ] symbols.{{cn|date=February 2013}}<ref>http://www.ancient-symbols.com/buddhist-symbols.html</ref> | |||
| ==Buddhist usage== | ==Buddhist usage== | ||
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The dharmachakra, usually written dharmachakra in English (Sanskrit: धर्मचक्र; Pāli: धम्मचक्क dhammachakka; Template:Lang-my (Template:IPA-my); Chinese: 法輪; pinyin: fălún; Template:Lang-bo (chos kyi 'khor lo); Template:Dabbr "Wheel of Dharma" or "Wheel of Law") is one of the Ashtamangala symbols that has represented dharma, the Buddha's teaching of the path to Nirvana, since the early period of Indian Buddhism.
Origin
According to Storl, the Dharmachakra is an ancient Indo-European symbol. In northern Europe it was depicted in the spinning wheel on which the three goddesses of faith, the Norns, spun out the destinies of all beings. According to Xiaojing Yan, the dharmachakra is of Hindu origin.. It is one of the Ashtamangala symbols.
Buddhist usage
The Dharmachakra is the symbol of Buddhism. It is one of the oldest known Buddhist symbols found in Indian art, appearing with the first surviving post-Harappan Indian iconography in the time of the Buddhist king Aśoka. The Buddha is said to have set the "wheel of dhamma" (dhammachakra) in motion when he delivered his first sermon, which is described in the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta. The use of this symbol was derived from the idea of the Chakravartin, the ideal king, who turns the wheel (of a chariot) when he conquers the world.
Other uses
- In Jainism, the Dharmachakra is worshipped as a symbol of the dharma.
- Other "cakras" appear in other Indian traditions, e.g. Vishnu's Sudarśanacakra, which is, however, a wheel-shaped weapon and not a representation of a teaching.
- The national flag of the former Kingdom of Sikkim in the Himalayas featured a version of the Dharmachakra.
- Thai people also use a yellow flag with a red Dharmachakra as their Buddhist flag.
- The coat of arms of Mongolia includes a dharmachakra together with some other Buddhist attributes such as the lotus, cintamani, blue khata and Soyombo.
- Following the suggestion of Bhimrao Ambedkar, the Ashoka Chakra with 24 spokes was used on the Lion Capital of Sarnath, the official Emblem of India, and on the Flag of India.
- The Dharmachakra is also the U.S. Armed Forces military chaplain insignia for Buddhist chaplains.
- In non-buddhist cultural contexts, an eight-spoked Dharmachakra resembles a traditional ship's wheel. As a nautical emblem, this image is a common sailor tattoo.
- In the Unicode computer standard, the Dharmachakra is called the "Wheel of Dharma" and found in the eight-spoked form. It is represented as U+2638 (☸).
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The Coat of arms of Mongolia includes Dharmachakra, Cintamani, Lotus, blue khata and Soyombo
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The Coat of arms of Sri Lanka, featuring a blue Dharmachakra as the crest
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The National Flag of India has the Ashoka Chakra at its center representing all Indian religions
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The flag of the former Kingdom of Sikkim featured a version of the Dharmachakra
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The Dharmachakra flag, symbol of Buddhism in Thailand
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Thammachak (Dharmachakra) Seal, seal of Thammasat University in Thailand, consisting of a Constitution on Phan or container with the 12-spoked Dharmachakra behind
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Dharmachakra for the U.S. Armed Forces military chaplain
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See also
- Ashtamangala
- Bhavacakra
- Chakravarti
- Coat of arms of Mongolia
- Coat of arms of Sri Lanka
- Khorlo
- Prayer wheel
- Sun Chariot
- Surya
- Sephirot
Notes
- ^ Grünwedel e.a.: "The wheel (dharmachakra), as already mentioned, was adopted by Buddha's disciples as the symbol of his doctrine, and combined with other symbols—a trident placed above it, etc.—stands for him on the sculptures of the Asoka period."
- Goetz: "dharmachakra, symbol of the Buddhist faith".
- Queen & King: "Ambedkar, as a member of Nehru's first cabinet, proposed the use of the Buddhist dharmachakra or "wheel of the law" on the new flag of India and the Ashokan lion-capital on the national currency."
References
- ancient-symbols.com, Buddhist symbols
- ^ Grünwedel 1901, p. 67. sfn error: no target: CITEREFGrünwedel1901 (help)
- ^ Storl 2011, p. 56.
- http://books.google.com/books?id=7f9gS40A_3IC&pg=PA386&lpg=PA386&dq=%22dharma+chakra%22+hindu+wisdom&source=bl&ots=d_ZZrVf5LS&sig=4QchdguDc0UKFt1XjB2gEBRIMXw&hl=en&sa=X&ei=OqTUUs_LBuOayAH4tIGQCQ&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAzgK#v=onepage&q=%22dharma%20chakra%22%20hindu%20wisdom&f=false
- http://www.ancient-symbols.com/buddhist-symbols.html
- ^ Goetz 1964, p. 52.
- ^ Pal 1986, p. 42.
- ^ Queen 1996, p. 27. sfn error: no target: CITEREFQueen1996 (help)
Sources
- Goetz, Hermann (1964), The art of India: five thousand years of Indian art., Crown
- Grünwedel, Albert; Gibson, Agnes C.; Burgess, James (1901), Buddhist art in India, Bernard Quaritch
- Pal, Pratapaditya (1986), Indian Sculpture: Circa 500 B.C.-A.D. 700, University of California Press
- Queen; King, Sallie B. (1996), Engaged Buddhism: Buddhist liberation movements in Asia., SUNY Press
- Storl, Wolf-Dieter (2011), Shiva: The Wild God of Power and Ecstasy, Inner Traditions / Bear & Co
Further reading
- Dorothy C. Donath (1971). Buddhism for the West: Theravāda, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna; a comprehensive review of Buddhist history, philosophy, and teachings from the time of the Buddha to the present day. Julian Press. ISBN 0-07-017533-0.
