Have you ever been startled to see the 卍 symbol drawn under the roof or on the roof tiles when entering a temple like Jogyesa or Bongeunsa? Let's take a look at a conversation between a foreign friend and a Korean friend. "Huh? That... isn't that a Nazi symbol?" "No, that's a temple symbol. On map apps too, temples show up as that shape." "Really? Why that shape, of all things?" ## A symbol much older than the Nazis 卍 is a symbol that existed thousands of years before the swastika (hakenkreuz) used by the Nazis. It originated in India and came to represent the Buddha's heart and teachings, and temples in Korea, China, and Japan have used this symbol since ancient times. In the 20th century, the Nazis took this ancient symbol, flipped it, and tilted it to use it with a completely different meaning. The two symbols look similar, but their roots are completely different. ## Looking at the direction, they're different If you look closely, the direction is different too. The 卍 at temples has its arms bent counterclockwise, while the Nazi symbol has its arms bent clockwise and tilted 45 degrees. If you search for a temple on Kakao Map or Naver Map, this symbol shows up right on the map too. Even if it looks unfamiliar, there's no need to be surprised — it's just a symbol that shows where a temple is. ## When You Come Across It at a Temple If you see this mark inside a temple, it's enough to just think, "Oh, this is a temple," and move on. Taking photos is fine, but inside the main hall, just remember to walk quietly and take off your shoes before entering.</content> </invoke>