23 Popular Symbols of Peace & How They Became Iconic

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Sociologist Lawrence Carter explains universal symbols of peace and how they became popular

Co-authored by Lawrence Carter and Maryana Lucia Vestic, MFA, M.Phil.

Last Updated: January 28, 2026 Fact Checked

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• 23 Symbols of Peace
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• Peace Sign History & Origins
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You’ve probably seen the peace sign many times (☮), but what do you really know about it? Find out all the details about this sign and other iconic symbols of peace, including the dove, olive branch, V-sign, white poppy, and many more. We’ll teach you what each symbol looks like, where it’s from, and how it came to be. Plus, explain the history and origins of the peace sign, with insights from sociologist Lawrence Carter.

Common Symbols of Peace

Sociologist Lawrence Carter says the hand sign, the classic peace sign, a circular wreath with branches, roses, and bowing, are universal symbols of peace. Other lesser-known symbols include paper cranes, the rainbow peace flag, and the Banner of Peace (Pax Cultura).

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Section 1 of 2:

23 Symbols of Peace

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1. 
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   Peace sign (☮) Carter says the peace sign is the most universal symbol for peace. The symbol consists of a circle with a vertical line down the middle and 2 angled lines pointing down from the center. British graphic designer Gerald Holton created it for the 1958 nuclear disarmament march. It’s better known today as a symbol of peace and protests in the 1960s, and appears on a variety of pop culture items, including t-shirts, posters, jewelry, and even as peace sign emojis.

   • Origin: UK and U.S.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Lawrence Carter is a sociologist, educator, public speaker, and edutainment creator based in San Bernardino, California. He has nearly a decade of experience.
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   Dove with an olive branch Though a white dove also represents peace through the Holy Spirit in Christianity and is seen as a symbol of life, it came to represent peace because of Pablo Picasso's "Dove of Peace" symbol. The symbol depicts a white dove holding an olive branch in its mouth. The Dove of Peace was also used for the World Peace Congress in 1949. It symbolized harmony, purity, and the end of conflict and war.

   • Origin: Greek
   • In the Bible: The dove and olive branch symbol appear in the story of Noah's Ark, when Noah sends out a white dove to scan for land. The dove returns with an olive branch in its beak as a positive affirmation that land is nearby.
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   Olive branch The olive branch stands for peace, hope, and new beginnings. In ancient Greek mythology, it was associated with Eirene, the Greek goddess of peace (known as Pax in Rome, which means “peace” in Latin). It continued with the Roman tradition of leaders wearing a crown of laurel/olive branch as a symbol of victory and peace. Today, the olive branch is the official emblem of the United Nations.

   • Origin: Greek
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   V sign This hand sign is probably the most universal symbol of peace, according to Carter. It’s possible to make the V-sign while forming a fist with the palm facing out, and then extending the parted middle and index fingers to make a “V” shape. It was first used by Winston Churchill in 1941 as a symbol of victory during World War II. However, it was most famously used by those protesting the Vietnam War in the 1960s. Today, it’s used as a hand gesture in photographs and by some K-pop entertainers.

   • Origin: Europe
   • Making the same gesture with the palm inward is an insult in the UK and is similar to flipping the bird.
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   Broken rifles The broken rifle symbol is just that—a pair of hands holding a rifle that has been broken in half. It first appeared on the masthead of the 1909 issue of De Wapens Neder (Down with Weapons) in the Netherlands, but has appeared throughout Europe during the 20th century as a symbol of both peace and an end to all wars.

   • Origin: Europe
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   White poppy The small white poppy flower symbolizes peace, as well as the end to all wars. It was first distributed by the Women's Cooperative Guild in the United Kingdom in 1933 to highlight how war is not a solution to conflicts. In 1934, the Peace Pledge Union also began distributing white poppies as a pledge for peace.

   • Origin: United Kingdom
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   Roses Roses are signs of peace, used during the socialist movement as a sign of solidarity, according to Carter. During this time, red roses were tied to the “Bread and Roses” slogan of the labor movement, symbolizing the struggle for basic economic needs (bread) and the hope for a fulfilling life with dignity, beauty, and respect (roses).

   • Origin: United Kingdom
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   Paper cranes Paper cranes are origami figures folded from a single piece of paper into the shape of a crane. Cranes first appeared in Japanese folk tales, but became a symbol of peace due to Sadako Sasaki, a young Japanese girl who survived the Hiroshima bombing. She made 1,000 paper cranes, which played a big role in starting a global peace movement.

   • Origin: Japanese
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   Banner of peace (Pax Cultura) The “Pax Cultura” (“Cultural Peace”) symbol is made up of a maroon circle (symbolizing culture, eternity, or the totality of existence) containing 3 red dots (representing art, science, religion/spirituality) arranged in a triangle, all against a white background. Russian artist Nicholas Roerich created it as an emblem of peace through cultural protection.

   • Origin: Russia
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    Rainbow peace flag The rainbow peace flag has 7 horizontal stripes (from top to bottom: violet, blue, light blue, green, yellow, orange, and red), along with the word PACE (Italian for “peace”) in large white letters across the center. It originated in 1961 during nuclear disarmament marches and also appeared during the “pace da tutti i balconi” (“peace from every balcony") protest in 2002.

    • Origin: Italy
    • The rainbow peace flag differs from the LGBTQ+ pride flag, which has 6 colors from top to bottom (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet).
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    Mistletoe Mistletoe is a cluster of green leaves with white berries that is better known as a Christmas motif. Celtic druids also considered mistletoe as a symbol of fertility and protection against evil spirits. It was a tradition to hang mistletoe in doorways at the beginning of a new year for luck, protection, and to invite love, peace, and goodwill into the home.

    • Origin: Celtic
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    Predator and prey The image of “predator and prey” consists of any predator lying peacefully with its prey. The idea comes from the biblical Book of Isaiah, where traditional enemies coexist, like the lion and the lamb or the leopard and the goat. It’s a symbol of harmony through peace.

    • Origin: Biblical
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    Peace Bell The peace bell is a Japanese-style structure that houses a bell. The bell is a global symbol of anti-war sentiment that Japan gave to the UN in 1954. The structure itself was made of coins donated by people all over the world, with the hope of everlasting peace. The bell is traditionally rung on Earth Day (April 22) and the International Day of Peace (September 21).

    • Origin: Japanese
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    Heiwa (平和) The heiwa symbol is created out of 2 Japanese kanji: 平 (“hei”), meaning “flat,” “calm,” or “even,” and 和 (“wa”), meaning “harmony” and “gentleness.” Japan. It represents peace and harmony, the absence of war, and a state of balance, unity, and peaceful coexistence.

    • Origin: Japanese
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    Japanese red maple (momiji) The Japanese maple tree has palm-shaped red leaves. The tree itself symbolizes peace, serenity, beauty, longevity, and the transient nature of life. The maple also reflects the Buddhist concept of mujō (impermanence), while the changing color of the leaves signifies renewal, endurance, and a deep connection to nature.

    • Origin: Japanese
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    Mpatapo Mpatapo is a 4-cornered knot with no beginning or end. It symbolizes the coming together of enemies after a conflict to restore harmony and forgiveness. Mpatapo is a traditional Adinkra symbol representing peace, reconciliation, and pacification.

    • Origin: West African/Ghanaian
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    Bin Nka Bi The Bi Nka Bi symbol depicts two fish or creatures biting each other's tails. It’s another Adinkra symbol that represents unity, forgiveness, harmony, and avoiding conflict. The symbol serves as a reminder of peaceful coexistence and collective growth.

    • Origin: West African/Ghanaian
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    Hé Ping (和平) Hé Píng is the Mandarin Chinese term for "peace.” It’s made up of the following characters: “hé” (和), meaning “harmony” or “gentle,” and “píng” (平), meaning “equal,” “calm,” and “peaceful.” It’s one of the best-known Chinese symbols of peace, in addition to the “ping” (vase) and “bǎihé” (lilies).

    • Origin: Chinese
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    Apple The apple symbolizes peace because its name, “píngguǒ” (苹果), sounds similar to “píng'ān” (平安), meaning "peace" or "safety.” Apples are a traditional gift on Christmas Eve, also known as "Peaceful Night" in China, given to wish loved ones a safe, peaceful holiday and new year.

    • Origin: Chinese
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    Shalom The shalom peace symbol consists of the Hebrew word “shalom,” meaning peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare, and tranquility. It represents peace between humanity and God (or between 2 different countries) and is associated with a call to peace in the Middle East. The symbol sometimes also features other peace symbols, like a dove with an olive branch in its mouth.

    • Origin: Hebrew
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    Om (ॐ) The Om (Aum) consists of 3 curves and a dot to symbolize the 3 states of consciousness (waking, dreaming, deep sleep), the illusory world (“maya”), and the absolute, transcendent state. It’s considered a universal symbol of peace, tranquility, and unity, which represents the sound of the universe and creation in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

    • In Chinese Buddhism, the om symbol is also the first syllable of the mantra “om mani padme hum,” associated with Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of compassion.
    • Origin: Buddhist
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    Anchor The cross-like anchor symbol stands for peace, hope, and stability in Christianity. It also represents faith and salvation under persecution as symbolized by belief in Christ during the “storms” of life.

    • Origin: Christian
    • It’s mentioned in the Bible, Hebrews 6:19: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.”
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    Bowing Bowing is a pretty universal sign of peace, says Carter. Influenced by Buddhism and Confucianism around 500-800 A.D., it became a standard greeting in Japan to maintain peace and social order. Bowing represents social harmony (wa), humility, and respect, which shows a lack of threat to a higher-status person.

    • Origin: Japan
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Section 2 of 2:

Peace Symbol History & Origins

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1. 1
   The peace sign began as a symbol of the British anti-nuclear movement. The origin of the peace symbol ties in with how it looks—a circle with a vertical line down the middle and 2 angled lines pointing down is said to symbolize 2 semaphore signs: “N” for “nuclear” and “D” for “disarmament.” Gerald Holtom designed the peace sign in 1958 for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).

   • Flag semaphore is a visual signaling system using flags held at different positions to stand for letters of the alphabet.
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   The symbol eventually became an iconic international symbol of peace. According to Carter, the peace sign became popular alongside the hippie movement. In every shot of a protest against war and imperialism, the peace sign was shown, he continues. Some U.S. soldiers even drew the peace sign on their helmets to protest the war they were fighting.

   • The symbol was also popularized in the late 50s and early 60s, when there was a boom in media consumption, including film, TV, and news, says Carter.
   • The peace sign was also used in civil rights marches led by Martin Luther King Jr. and during protests against South African apartheid. In general, it’s widely known as a symbol associated with fashion, music, art, and pop culture.
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