The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross - T. K. Nakagaki

The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross

Rescuing a Symbol of Peace from the Forces of Hate

(Autor)

Buch | Softcover
200 Seiten
2018
Stone Bridge Press (Verlag)
978-1-61172-045-7 (ISBN)
17,45 inkl. MwSt
A remarkable cross-cultural history that rescues the swastika, an ancient Buddhist symbol, from its deployment by the forces of hate.
A remarkable cross-cultural history that rescues the swastika, an
ancient Buddhist symbol, from its deployment by the forces of hate.


The swastika has been used for over three thousand years by billions
of people in many cultures and religions—including Buddhism, Jainism and Hinduism—as an auspicious symbol of the sun and good fortune. However,
beginning with its hijacking and misappropriation by Nazi Germany, it
has also been used, and continues to be used, as a symbol of hate in the Western World. Hitler's device is in fact a "hooked cross." 


Rev. Nakagaki's book explains how and why these symbols got confused, and
offers a path to peace, understanding, and reconciliation.


Please note: Photographs in the digital edition of the books are in color.
Photographs in the print edition are in black and white.

Rev. Dr. T. K. Nakagaki is a Buddhist priest, ordained in the 750-year- old Jodoshinshu tradition of Japanese Buddhism. He is the author of three books in Japanese, A New York Buddhist Priest Walks in India (Gendai Shokan, 2003); Diary of a Manhattan Monk (Gendai Shokan, 2010); and Manji and Hakenkreuz (Gendaishokan, 2013). He is also a noted Japanese calligrapher.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vii



Preface 1



Western vs. Eastern Perceptions of the Swastika



A Few Notes on Terms and Images 3



My First Encounter in the US ... 4



Why Discuss the Swastika Now? 6



The Human Capacity for Atrocity 8



Encountering Holocaust Survivors 10



Importance of Dialogue 12



Our Own Monsters Within 13







Chapter 1 14



The Swastika Symbol in My Tradition



The Swastika in Japan 14



Meaning of the Swastika in Japanese language 26



Meaning of the Swastika in the Buddha’s Discourse 29



The Standard Buddhist Swastika is Left-Turning 35







Chapter 2 39 A Universal Symbol



Swastika Use in Various Religions 40



The Swastika Symbol in North America 56



Chapter 3 69 Hitler’s Flag



Design of the Hook-Cross 69



Hitler and the Eastern Swastika; 74



Swastika usage in 19th and 20th Century Europe 74







Chapter 4 77 Hitler’s First Meaning of Hakenkreuz: Aryan



Meaning of “Aryan” 77



Ārya in Buddhism 78



The Western Concept of What is an Aryan 82



The Meaning of “Aryan” for Hitler 87







Chapter 5 96 Hitler’s Second Meaning of The Hakenkreuz : Anti-Semitism



Meaning of Anti-Semitism 96



Anti-Semitism and Hitler’s Early Life 99



Martin Luther (1483 -1546) 100



Richard Wagner (1813 -1883) 107



Luther, Wagner and Hitler 117



Political Symbol vs. Religious and Spiritual Symbol 117







Chapter 6 119 Hitler’s Symbol Is a “Hakenkreuz,” Not a Swastika



Difference between “Swastika” and “Hakenkreuz” 119



Definition of “Hakenkreuz” 125



Swastika and Hakenkreuz in Dictionaries 127



Translation Problems of “Hakenkreuz” 131







Chapter 7 140 Conclusion – Present & Future Meaning of the Swastika Symbol



Current Swastika Issues 140



Where Are We Going? 143



Epilogue 147



Action Plan for the Public



BIBLIOGRAPHY 152

Erscheinungsdatum
Zusatzinfo B&W photos throughout
Verlagsort Berkeley CA
Sprache englisch
Maße 152 x 228 mm
Themenwelt Kunst / Musik / Theater
Geisteswissenschaften Religion / Theologie Buddhismus
ISBN-10 1-61172-045-1 / 1611720451
ISBN-13 978-1-61172-045-7 / 9781611720457
Zustand Neuware
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