Symbols are one of the world’s oldest means of communication, dating back as far as historically possible. Today, symbols still play a vital role in society, displaying beliefs, values, morality and many other things crucial to civilisation. The social anthropologist Raymond Firth wrote “It is assumed that symbols communicate meanings at levels of reality not accessible through immediate experience or conceptual thought. These meanings are often complex and of different layers.”[1] I intend to focus on exactly that, and how these symbols have gone beyond their original purpose to become something much more.

Symbols becoming universally recognised and accepted in cultures other than their origins is not uncommon. The Tajitu, symbol for the basis of the Chinese culture of Yin and Yang again represents two opposing factors existing in harmony with one another. This symbol has been adopted comfortably into the western world and similar to the CND sign, is now an icon of peace. Alongside this, there is also Roerich’s banner of peace, a symbol created to protect cultural artefacts such as monuments and buildings, representing the ‘totality of culture’. Throughout the duration of history symbols of peace have always provided strong bases for values and beliefs, growing in that sense the more time passes.
With the idea of yin and yang being two polar opposites, it seems only fitting to talk about the other end of the spectrum. A symbol that, unlike the signs of peace previously mentioned, was and still is feared, powerful and known all over the world; the swastika. Whilst travelling around India, I noticed the symbol on countless buildings and temples, and naively made the quick judgement that this was a result of Nazi occupation. However, just a small amount of research on the matter tells you how far beyond the swastika goes than World War II. The origin of the symbol is more or less unknown due to it being able to be traced back to a multitude of cultures; however it can be pinpointed to civilisations such as ancient Troy and Egypt over 3000 years ago. Pre-Nazism the swastika was indeed used as a religious symbol by both Indian Hinduism and Buddhism. It is partly from India where Hitler apparently based one of the main ideologies of Nazism on; the creation of an Aryan race.

An interesting psychologist to look at when studying symbols is Carl Jung. He has his own theory on the swastikas creation believing it to be down to his idea of collective unconscious, where the human mind seems to have a natural attraction to the form of the symbol. This may explain why through history it has been used in cultures all over the world independently. Kenneth Burke, an American philosopher, describes man as a “symbol using, symbol making, and symbol misusing animal” [5]. In my opinion this definition provides an effective conclusion. Both the way in which symbols change and have so much meaning in the world today despite being fundamentally so simple is, and will remain throughout the course of humanity, an incredible feat.
References:
1. Symbols and Meaning: A Concise Introduction by Mari Womack, published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc. in the USA in 2005.
3. Lin, Qi and Shu: An Introduction to Science and Civilisation in China by Peng Yoke Ho, published by Dover Publications in the USA in 2000.
Images:
1. http://www.artrepublic.com/prints/14376-cnd-soldiers-silkscreen-signed-limited-edition- of-350.html accessed on the 04/12/11
3. http://flagspot.net/flags/qt-p-ro.html accessed on the 04/12/11