What is the Symbolism of the Circle?

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Discover the many meanings of circles in art, architecture, spirituality & religion
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Of all the shapes, the circle is considered the most perfect, both from a mathematical standpoint and a spiritual one. An endless loop with no beginning or end, it represents the cyclical nature of life and death, as well as completion, unity, and wholeness, and it has been considered a significant shape across various cultures and throughout history. For a more in-depth look at the circle and what it symbolizes, keep reading.

Things You Should Know

  • Throughout the world, the circle symbolizes infinity, unity, the life cycle, wholeness, completion, and divinity.
  • Common examples of the circle in architecture include the vesica piscis arches and rose windows.
  • The circle is a significant symbol in many religions. For instance, in Christianity, it appears as a halo, while it appears as a mandala in many Eastern traditions.
Section 1 of 4:

What do circles symbolize?

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  1. The circle is considered a symbol of unity because it is symmetrical, even, and contains no beginnings or endings. It's just one perfect, endless line.
  2. Because the circle has no clear beginning or end, no top or bottom or sides, it is commonly used to represent infinity.
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  3. The “circle of life” is so called because life and death follow one another in a seemingly endless cycle of birth, growth, decay, and death and because death helps beget more life.
  4. The roundness of the circle, its uniform shape, and its lack of a beginning or ending make it a perfect symbol of wholeness and completion.
  5. Because the circle represents perfection and infinity, it is often considered a symbol of spirituality and godliness.
    • The square, on the other hand, commonly represents mankind.
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Section 2 of 4:

Spiritual & Cultural Circle Symbols

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  1. In Chinese philosophy, yin-yang—a circle constructed of a white half and a black half blending together—represents the meeting of the cosmic and the human realms. It also symbolizes the harmony of all things. [1]
  2. A signifier of union, rings are worn to signify betrothal and marriage.
    • A bishop wears a ring to signify his devotion to the church, while a nun’s ring signifies her marriage to Christ.
    • In ancient Greece and Rome, rings also indicated authority: the material the ring was made of as well as its design signified the wearer’s authority.
  3. The circle dance is a dance performed by a group of people in which there is no leading or following. Everyone in the group is of equal status and authority.
  4. The circle is seen in the sun as well as in the planets and their journey around the sun. In this way, the circle is a strong symbol of time and the life cycle.
  5. The circle may also symbolize zero in our numbering system. Like an egg or embryo (also round, like circles), the number zero represents potential, newness, and purity.
  6. The flower of life is a symbol containing 19 perfectly overlapping circles within one larger circle. It represents the interconnectedness of life and the perfection of the universe.
  7. The nautilus is one example of the Fibonacci spiral, a perfect spiral occurring in nature. The nautilus spiral symbolizes the grace and perfection of nature, as well as growth.
  8. In Greek mythology, the labyrinth was an elaborate circular maze designed by Daedalus to hold the Minotaur. The confusion of a labyrinth may symbolize the twists and turns of life. [2]
  9. The tree of life , often depicted as a tree with full roots forming the shape of a circle, is regarded in many cultures as a symbol of the life cycle, unity, wisdom, and the bridge between the human and divine.
  10. The ouroboros (from the Greek for tail and eating ), the snake eating its own tail, is an ancient symbol for infinity and the life cycle.
  11. The 7 chakras (chakra is Sanskrit for disc or wheel ) refer to the spinning “wheels” of energy at different locations in your body. Each chakra corresponds to certain nerves or organs. [3]
    • Chakras are featured in Tantric meditation practices, an esoteric yogic tradition born of Hinduism and Buddhism.
  12. The Wheel of Fortune (or Rota Fortunae ) symbolizes the fickle nature of Fate. The Roman goddess Fortuna (Greek Tyche) decides humans’ fates by spinning the wheel at random.
    • The Wheel of Fortune originates from ancient Babylon and Greece.
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Section 3 of 4:

Circle Symbolism in Different Religions

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  1. In Christianity, the circle is commonly depicted as a halo behind the head of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints. The halo symbolizes pure goodness and the absence of evil.
    • Christ is sometimes depicted wearing a cruciform halo, or a circular halo with a cross in the center.
    • Sometimes God the Father is depicted with a halo in the shape of a triangle.
  2. The rainbow is a half-circle that appears to touch both heaven and Earth. It first appears in the Bible after the flood, as a sign of peace.
    • It is often portrayed in art as the Lord’s throne and in scenes of the Last Judgment.
    • In Greek myth, Iris was the goddess of rainbows. A messenger goddess, the rainbow represents the link between the earthly and divine realms.
  3. In Zen Buddhism, the ensō (Japanese for circle ) is a circle hand-drawn in one quick brush stroke. At once empty and full, this minimalist Zen symbol represents enlightenment, infinity, the universe, and the void. [4]
  4. In Hinduism as well as Buddhism, saṃsāra—depicted as a circle—is the cycle of life, death, and reincarnation, and it is governed by karma. [5]
  5. In different spiritual traditions, the mandala—Sanskrit for circle —is a geometric configuration of different symbols representing unity, balance, and the spiritual journey. It is used as a tool for spiritual guidance and to help aid in meditation.
    • In Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Shinto, the mandala may be a map representing different deities, paradises, or shrines.
  6. The Dharmachakra, or Dharma wheel, is a symbol used in many different Indian religions, notably Buddhism. It is depicted as a chariot wheel with varying numbers of spokes and symbolizes life and death. [6]
    • The round shape of the wheel represents the perfection of the dharma, or the Buddha’s teachings.
    • The rim stands for meditation and mindfulness, and the hub represents discipline.
    • The symbol is most commonly used in Buddhism, but it is also significant in Jainism and Hinduism.
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Section 4 of 4:

Architectural Circle Symbols

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  1. The vesica piscis ( fish bladder in Latin), or mandorla , refers to a shape created by 2 circles overlapping. The center of each circle lies in the circumference of the other. [7]
    • The origins of the vesica piscis are unclear, but its popularity is probably due to the Christian religion: it appears in the Christian fish symbol, as a niche surrounding drawings and sculptures of Christ, and in Gothic pointed arches.
    • The vesica piscis is commonly seen in Venn diagrams .
  2. Rose windows are an architectural marvel popular in Gothic churches. Rose windows consist of an array of stained glass panels arranged in a large circle, supported by a delicately interlacing but strong “web” of stone. [8]
    • Rose windows are featured in many churches, but they are perhaps most famously seen in Notre Dame in Paris.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://iep.utm.edu/yinyang/
      2. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-meaningful-life/202111/life-and-the-labyrinth-meaning
      3. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9282169/
      4. ↑ https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/artofzen/ed_zen_today.html
      5. ↑ https://www.hinduamerican.org/hinduism-101/what
      6. ↑ https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/docs/support/world_religions/buddhism/symbols.pdf
      7. ↑ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00004-015-0253-9
      8. ↑ https://www.friendsofnotredamedeparis.org/cathedral/artifacts/rose-windows/

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