History

• Tradition has it that the Buddha himself created the Dharma Wheel, when he originally taught the basic tenets of Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths and other early Buddhist discourses. The Dharma Wheel as a symbol did appear early on in Buddhist history pre-dating the time of King Ashoka in India, who ruled from 272 to 232 B.C.E.
  
  

Features

• The number of spokes on the Dharma Wheel can change. Some versions have four spokes, to symbolize the Four Noble Truths, or eight, to symbolize the Noble Eightfold Path, while others have many more.
  
  

Function

• The three turnings of the Dharma Wheel, according to tantric Buddhism, symbolize the progressive development of Buddhism, moving from the original teachings of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path; the teaching of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra (scripture); to the teaching of the Mahavairocana Sutra.
  
  

Geography

• The Dharma Wheel is also said to be a geographical symbol, showing that Buddhism moves from country to country and changes according to cultures and conditions, but still remains essentially whole.
  
  

Misconceptions

• The Dharma Wheel, the dharmachakra, is sometimes confused with the Wheel of Rebirth, the bhavachakra. They are not the same; while the Dharma Wheel generally symbolizes the teachings of the Buddha, the Wheel of Rebirth is essentially a chart showing the various ways you can be reborn according to the consequences of your deeds.