Buddhism Symbol Copy and Paste (☸ 🪷)
Dharma wheel
Unicode U+2638 · HTML ☸ · Emoji 1.0 · Windows Win+.
Tap any symbol to copy it. Each tap also adds it to the box above, so you can copy several together.
Codes for every symbol on this page (Unicode, HTML, emoji version)
| Symbol | Name | Unicode | HTML | Emoji version | Windows Alt code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☸ | Dharma wheel | U+2638 | ☸ | 1.0 | - |
| ☸️ | Dharma wheel emoji | U+2638 U+FE0F | ☸️ | 1.0 | - |
| 🪷 | Lotus | U+1FAB7 | 🪷 | 14.0 | - |
| 卍 | Buddhist manji | U+534D | 卍 | - | - |
| 🙏 | Folded hands | U+1F64F | 🙏 | 1.0 | - |
| 📿 | Prayer beads | U+1F4FF | 📿 | 1.0 | - |
| 🛕 | Temple | U+1F6D5 | 🛕 | 12.0 | - |
The main buddhism symbol is the Dharmachakra ☸, the wheel of dharma, which stands for the teaching of the Buddha. Its eight spokes represent the Noble Eightfold Path, the way of life the Buddha taught to end suffering.
Tap ☸ in the copy box to copy it, or choose the lotus 🪷, prayer beads 📿 or folded hands 🙏 from the grid. The Download PNG button gives a transparent image of each Buddhist symbol for charts and project files.
Dharma Wheel Symbol: The Dharmachakra Buddhist Symbol
Buddhists say that when the Buddha gave his first teaching at Sarnath, near Varanasi, he "set the wheel of dharma in motion". The buddhist dharma wheel symbol recalls that moment. Its parts are often explained like this:
- The round rim: the completeness of the teaching.
- The eight spokes: the Noble Eightfold Path: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.
- The hub: discipline and focus at the centre of practice.
You will see the Dharmachakra on Buddhist temples, monks' books and flags, and in Tibet it is often shown with two deer, remembering the deer park at Sarnath.
Other Symbols of Buddhism with Meanings
| Symbol | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 🪷 | Lotus | Purity; it grows from muddy water but blooms clean, like a mind that becomes awake |
| Bodhi leaf | Leaf of the Bodhi tree | The Buddha's enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya |
| Triratna | Three jewels | A trident-like sign for the Buddha, the Dharma (teaching) and the Sangha (community) |
| 卍 | Manji | An auspicious sign seen on Buddha images; in Japan it marks Buddhist temples on maps |
| 📿 | Mala | Beads used to count mantras or breaths in meditation |
Tibetan Buddhism also uses eight auspicious symbols (ashtamangala): the parasol, the pair of golden fish, the treasure vase, the lotus, the conch shell, the endless knot, the victory banner and the dharma wheel. The swastik symbol page explains the auspicious cross shape shared by Indian traditions.
Empty Seat Symbol in Buddhism and the Buddha Symbol
In early Buddhist art, such as the carvings at Sanchi and Bharhut, the Buddha himself is often not shown as a person. Artists used signs instead: an empty seat (throne), footprints, the Bodhi tree, a stupa or the wheel. The empty seat symbol in Buddhism marks the Buddha's presence without showing his body.
Later, statues of the Buddha became common. Today, people searching for a buddha symbol often mean a seated Buddha image or the 🧘 meditation emoji, though there is no official Buddha emoji.
Buddha Hand Symbol: Common Mudras
A buddha hand symbol is called a mudra, a gesture with meaning. Some well-known ones:
| Mudra | Hand position | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Abhaya | Right hand raised, palm facing out | Fearlessness and protection |
| Dhyana | Both hands resting in the lap | Meditation |
| Bhumisparsha | Right hand touching the ground | Calling the earth to witness the enlightenment |
| Dharmachakra | Both hands at the chest, fingers forming circles | Teaching the dharma |
The raised palm also appears in the Jain emblem. See the Jain symbol page, which is useful if you are comparing the jainism and buddhism symbol for a school project.
Ashoka Chakra Symbol and the Buddhist Wheel
India's national flag carries the Ashoka Chakra, a wheel with 24 spokes taken from the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath. Emperor Ashoka supported Buddhism, and the chakra reflects the idea of dharma. The Buddhist dharma wheel usually has eight spokes, so the two are related but not the same. Read more on the national symbols of India page.
How to Type the Buddhism Symbol
There is no Alt code for ☸. Use these ways:
- Copy and paste it from this page.
- Microsoft Word: type
2638and press Alt+X for ☸, or1FAB7then Alt+X for 🪷. - Windows: press Windows+. and search "wheel of dharma".
- Mac: press Control+Command+Space and search "dharma".
- Phone: search "dharma" or "wheel" in the emoji keyboard for ☸️.
In HTML, ☸ shows ☸. See all faiths on the religious symbols hub.
Frequently asked questions
What is the symbol of Buddhism?
The Dharmachakra ☸, or wheel of dharma, is the main symbol of Buddhism. Its eight spokes stand for the Noble Eightfold Path. The lotus 🪷 and the Bodhi leaf are also widely used.
How many spokes does the dharma wheel have?
The Buddhist dharma wheel usually has eight spokes for the Eightfold Path. Some artistic versions have more, and the Ashoka Chakra on India's flag has 24.
Why does the lotus matter in Buddhism?
The lotus grows in mud yet its flower rises clean above the water. Buddhists see this as a picture of the mind becoming pure and awake while living in the ordinary world.
What does the trident-shaped symbol of Buddhism represent?
The trident-like sign is the triratna, or three jewels. It represents the Buddha, the Dharma (his teaching) and the Sangha (the community of practitioners).
Is there a Buddha emoji?
No official Buddha emoji exists. People often use ☸️, 🪷, 🧘 or 🙏 instead to show Buddhist themes in messages.