I’ve thought a lot about this image since I took it six years ago at the Panjiayuan Market.
I knew before coming to China that the Nazi party had adapted/adopted the Swastika for their needs, but had never before seen one out of that context. This was my first exposure. (My second came in Taiwan when I saw some temples emblazoned with it.)
In editing the photo today, I though about whether I should leave it in color, or really crop-in tightly on the statue of the Buddha. I decided to go with black and white, and stay with pretty much how I shot it, since I thought the context was important… just a piece amongst other pieces at the market for sale.
After a lot of searching, I found this page on the difference between the various swastikas:
The swastika sign (卐) – a symbol of Buddhism or Nazism?
I found this quote on the page referenced above:
Mind is the forerunner of (all evil) states. Mind is chief; mind-made are they. If one speaks or acts with wicked mind, because of that suffering follows one, even as the wheel follows the hoofs of the draught-ox.
Mind is the forerunner of (all good) states. Mind is chief, mind-made are they. If one speaks or acts with pure mind, because of that, happiness follows one, even as one’s shadow that never leaves.
