Do you know what Sanpaku Eyes are? What do they mean? What is the history and Japanese superstition behind these looks? Have you heard of the curse? Is your eye sanpaku? We will answer these and other questions in this article.
Sanpaku (三白) or Sanpaku gan (三白眼) are Japanese terms that mean “three whites.” This expression applies to those people where the white of the eye can be seen at the top or bottom of the iris, even when the person is looking straight ahead.
A person can have both eyes with this characteristic or just one of them. Apparently, it is just a normal characteristic of someone, but for the Japanese, there is a lot of superstition surrounding Sanpaku eyes.
For them, having such eyes can negatively interfere with a person’s destiny. It is also believed that this demonstrates a certain physical and mental imbalance according to traditional Japanese medicine. It can also affect the behavior and personality of those with Sanpaku eyes.
Curious to know more about this superstition? And what if you have Sanpaku eyes? Let’s see more details!
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Table of Contents
Theory around Sanpaku
In 1965, Ohsawa published the book titled “You Are All Sanpaku.” But it was in the nineties that people became aware of the subject.
George Ohsawa became popular for talking about macrobiotics and the expression Sanpaku in the West. For those who had this condition, he recommended diets rich in whole grains, vegetables, and dried fruits to mitigate the effects.
These guidelines were given because it is believed that those with Sanpaku eyes have a higher chance of becoming ill and suffering fatal accidents. The looks can also indicate signs of psychopathy.
The fact that a person’s iris touches one edge, leaving the other part whiter does not mean that they are cursed, that is, a psychopath, but serves as a warning.
According to Brian Ashcraft, when a person ages or becomes ill, the iris begins to rise, and the lower part of the eye becomes more evident. It can be an indication regarding the person’s physical or mental health.
Origin of Sanpaku Eyes
Sanpaku eyes are a popular belief that likely originated in ancient China and spread to many other cultures. It is believed to have emerged as a way to identify individuals who were considered more prone to developing mental or physical illnesses.
The belief also has roots in traditional Chinese medicine, where it is believed that Sanpaku eyes are a sign of energetic imbalance in the body. Others believe that this belief has Japanese or Tibetan roots.
One theory suggests that these eyes identify individuals with violent or malicious tendencies. Another theory is that the superstition arose as a way to identify individuals considered more spiritually advanced. According to this theory, people with Sanpaku eyes were thought to be more likely to have psychic or spiritual abilities.
Sanpaku Eyes and Health Problems
Some people believe that Sanpaku eyes can cause common health problems, such as headaches, insomnia, and digestive issues. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this relationship.
There are some techniques and home remedies that people use to treat Sanpaku eyes, such as massage around the eyes, relaxation exercises, and consuming certain types of foods.
However, it is important to remember that these techniques have not been scientifically proven, and it is always advisable to consult a doctor before starting any treatment.
In general, the superstition of Sanpaku eyes is considered a belief without scientific basis. There is no evidence supporting the idea that Sanpaku eyes are related to health problems or bad luck.
However, the belief can negatively affect the self-esteem and self-image of some people, especially if they are led to feel socially excluded or discriminated against due to their appearance.
Types of Sanpaku Eyes
Let’s now look at the main types of Sanpaku:
Sanpaku Yin – Lower
Sanpaku Yin is when the lower part of the eye, called the sclera, becomes more evident. The iris of the eye sticks to the top, making the lower part more visibly white.
Beliefs show that people with this type of look indicate that the outside world presents some risk to them.
These types of risks are some tragic death. John Lennon (who was murdered by a fan) mentioned Sanpaku eyes in one of his songs, Aisumasen.
The artist had a tragic death, just like many other artists who had these eyes. Sanpaku Yin means “outside world,” which according to superstition, something bad may happen to this person.
Sanpaku Yang – Upper
Sanpaku Yang is when the upper part of the eye (sclera) becomes more evident. When the upper part of the eyes is whiter while the lower part concentrates the iris.
According to superstition, these people have explosive behavior and violent tendencies. They are more prone to commit atrocities against others.
An example that applies to this case is Charles Manson. This American criminal became known for his murders and for creating his cult called “Manson Family.” His followers also committed murders under his leadership.
People with this look generally suffer from some mental illness and psychopathic traits, including: aggression, tendency to explosive or violent outbursts.
Sanpaku Yang means “inner world,” this person may end up harming others according to superstition. Looks can indeed help you identify a psychopath, so be careful with this look.
Celebrities and Famous People with Sanpaku Eyes
Several celebrities and famous people with Sanpaku eyes have died tragically. We had Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elvis Presley, Indira Gandhi, Jim Morrison, Michael Jackson, among others.
We also had the famous cases of Princess Diana, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy (JFK), James Dean, and John Lennon. Below we will leave some photos of famous people with these eyes:
Jimmy Savile is a famous presenter with lower Sanpaku Yang eyes who committed various atrocities.
Korean Idols with Sanpaku Eyes
Below is a list of singers, actors, or famous people from Korea with this type of look:
- V (BTS);
- Lisa (BLACKPINK);
- Sehun (EXO);
- Sunmi;
- Hwasa (MAMAMOO);
- Haechan (NCT);
- Minnie ((G)I-DLE);
- Krystal (f(x));
- G-Dragon;
- N (VIXX);
Anime Characters with Sanpaku Eyes
In anime, it is very common to find famous characters with Sanpaku eyes, especially Sanpaku Yin, but it does not always mean that these characters are under a curse or have a killer spirit.
It is easy to draw and color an anime character’s eye when it is a small black dot centered in the white, or positioned at some of the edges of the eyes.
It is very common for the same anime character to appear with a small iris, large, positioned above or below, showing that such superstition makes no sense in the worlds of anime.
Sanpaku for the Japanese
For some Japanese, having such eyes is even charming for both men and women. There are even personality traits attributed to those with this look.
These characteristics are: people with attitude, well-focused people, able to position themselves in difficult situations, have a connection with spirituality, possess a calmer side, a more tranquil personality, and people who care about their appearance.
In Japan, there are even doctors who perform surgery to make Sanpaku eyes. Anime promotes this type of eye a lot, so few think of this look as something negative.
Superstition differs from proof!
If you ran to the mirror to see your eye as soon as you discovered what Sanpaku is, you are not the only one. Probably if your eye is not, you felt relieved, but if you noticed that your eye is Sanpaku, that worry hit. But don’t worry about it.
This is just one of many other superstitions that exist and have no real scientific proof; good and bad things happen to many people every day and with any eye characteristic.
We recommend reading:
- Japanese Superstitions – Bad luck and good luck in Japan
- Why do Japanese and other Asians have slanted eyes?
- What does Kawaii mean?
For example, the macrobiotic who recommended the diet said it would help the person not to be prone to accidents, but in fact, a good diet helps us have a healthy life, but does not prevent unforeseen events that may occur.
This superstition, not even in Japan where it started, is usually taken seriously! In fact, those who have this characteristic in Japan are considered quite kawaii, that is, literally very cute.
Also remembering that to see if you have Sanpaku eyes, you should look straight ahead to see if the iris perfectly touches the eyes or not.
If you have Sanpaku eyes, do not give importance to these superstitions that make no sense; consider it as an individual characteristic of yours that makes you unique and more beautiful.
So what do you think of this particularity? Do you think it’s cute, bizarre, or just another characteristic?
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