A Brief Study on the History and Symbolism of Stupas in Sandplay

Starting from personal curiosity about stupas and observations in sandplay therapy, this paper explores the development and symbolism of stupas. Stupas were introduced to China from ancient India alongside Buddhism during the Eastern Han Dynasty, which also gave rise to the Chinese character “ta” (stupa). Integrated with the characteristics of traditional Chinese pavilions and terraces, Chinese stupas developed localized features such as underground palaces and an odd number of floors. In terms of symbolism, stupas not only embody the integration of Yin and Yang, serving as a spiritual guide for Buddhists and symbolizing perfection, but also carry negative connotations of confinement — for instance, they were used in patriarchal culture to suppress instincts and constrain women. Combining Jungian psychological theories, this paper further analyzes the symbolism of stupas in myths and folktales, and proposes that when interpreting a stupa as a sandplay toy, comprehensive consideration should be given to the client’s background and the overall sandplay scene.