Taiwan: Detail of exterior double swastika at the Da Miao (Jingfu Gong) Temple, Taoyuan.

The earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient India as well as Classical Antiquity. Swastikas have also been used in various other ancient civilizations around the world.

The swastika remains widely used in Indian religions, specifically in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, primarily as a tantric symbol to evoke shakti or the sacred symbol of auspiciousness. The word 'swastika' comes from the Sanskrit, literally meaning 'to be good'.

Despite the use of the name swastika for the Nazi hakenkreuz or 'hook cross', the South Asian swastika has nothing to do with National Socialism or Fascism.

Taoyuan's old name was Taoziyuan (Chinese: 桃仔園; pinyin: Táozǐyuán; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Thô-á-hn̂g; literally: 'peach orchard'), since there used to be many peach blossoms in the area. In 1920 under Japanese rule, the area was renamed Taoyuan Town (Chinese: 桃園街; pinyin: Táoyuán Jiē; literally: 'peach garden town'), and incorporated into the Hsinchu state as a county jurisdiction. Since 1971, the name has remained Taoyuan City (桃園市).

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

David Henley

Credit:

Pictures From Asia