Wan

The wan, or Buddhist swastika (which faces left rather than right) is an ancient universal symbol in many societies that represents two sticks rubbed togethe producing fire and is a schematic tracking of the sun’s movement. It is derived from the ancient Indian symbol of the sun whose Sanskrit name “sv-asti” means “conducive to well-being”. The right-handed swastika was often on Vishnu’s chest. It was incorporated into Chinese and Japanese Buddhist iconography to designate plurality, abundance, prosperity and long life and became the symbol of the Buddha’s heart often placed on Shakyamuni’s chest as it is believed to contain the whole mind of Buddha and is the first of 65 auspicious signs on Buddha’ footprint. The wan is also the ten-thousand-character sign believed to have come from heaven and is “the accumulation of luck signs possessing ten thousand efficacies.”