# Is there a Yin Yang type symbol that used three characters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 25, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-yin-yang-type-symbol-that-used-three-characters/497599 "2009-05-25T20:03:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-yin-yang-type-symbol-that-used-three-characters/497599/1 "2009-05-25T20:03:32Z")
We all know the traditional Yin Yang symbol. Something like [this](http://nataa.org/uploadedImages/YinYang3.jpg). I am lookng for a similar symbol that uses 3 characters instead of 2. Also, if this does exist, is there any meaning attached to it? ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-yin-yang-type-symbol-that-used-three-characters/497599/2 "2009-05-25T20:14:40Z")
Korean symbol “Sam-Taegeuk” [http://www.san-shin.org/Sacred-Mtns-01.html](http://www.san-shin.org/Sacred-Mtns-01.html) I remember it being prominent in the Seoul Olympics. Apparently the three colors stand for heaven, earth, and humanity. ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-yin-yang-type-symbol-that-used-three-characters/497599/3 "2009-05-25T21:09:34Z")
There is such a symbol, exactly as you describe, including the dots as you see in the yin-yang symbol. It is used by the BDSM community: > **[BDSM | Symbols](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BDSM#Symbols)** > > One of the most commonly used symbols of the BDSM community is a derivation of a triskelion shape within a circle. Various forms of triskele have had many uses and many meanings in many cultures; its BDSM usage derives from the Ring of O in the classic book Story of O. The BDSM Emblem Project claims copyright over one particular specified form of the triskelion symbol; other variants of the triskelion are free from such copyright claims. > The leather pride flag is a symbol for the leather subcult... ---
**Author:** ![Scathach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Scathach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scathach)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-yin-yang-type-symbol-that-used-three-characters/497599/4 "2009-05-25T23:43:11Z")
There’s the triple spiral; land, sea, sky > **[Triskelion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_spiral)** > > A triskelion or triskeles is an ancient motif consisting of a triple spiral exhibiting rotational symmetry or other patterns in triplicate that emanate from a common center. > The spiral design can be based on interlocking Archimedean spirals, or represent three bent human legs. It is found in artifacts of the European Neolithic and Bronze Age with continuation into the Iron Age especially in the context of the La Tène culture\[citation needed\] and related Celtic traditions. > The actual triskeles ... ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-yin-yang-type-symbol-that-used-three-characters/497599/5 "2009-05-25T23:55:06Z")
> [@Claire\_Beauchamp](#): > > There is such a symbol, exactly as you describe, including the dots as you see in the yin-yang symbol. It is used by the BDSM community: > > [BDSM - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BDSM#Symbols) That is disappointing. Nothing against the BDSM community, but I don’t necessarily want to be affiliated with them. ---
**Author:** ![phi2dao](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6de8d8/32.png) [@phi2dao](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phi2dao)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-yin-yang-type-symbol-that-used-three-characters/497599/6 "2009-05-26T00:41:20Z")
Perhaps you’d like a mitsu tomoe? [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/tomoe](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/tomoe) ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-yin-yang-type-symbol-that-used-three-characters/497599/7 "2009-05-26T01:42:43Z")
There’s the roundel of the Irish Air Corps: [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Irish\_Air\_Corps\_roundel.svg/600px-Irish\_Air\_Corps\_roundel.svg.png](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cc/Irish_Air_Corps_roundel.svg/600px-Irish_Air_Corps_roundel.svg.png) ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-yin-yang-type-symbol-that-used-three-characters/497599/8 "2009-05-26T03:20:52Z")
> [@newcrasher](#): > > That is disappointing. Nothing against the BDSM community, but I don’t necessarily want to be affiliated with them. so don’t use their specific version then, its specifically black with the three dots, and is not well known anyway. No one is likely to make a connection with any other colored variation, its far more likely that people will think it’s Korean. ---
**Author:** ![Cerowyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/82dd89/32.png) [@Cerowyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cerowyn)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-yin-yang-type-symbol-that-used-three-characters/497599/9 "2009-05-26T03:45:35Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > so don’t use their specific version then, its specifically black with the three dots, and is not well known anyway. Well, it’s pretty well known in the BDSM community. Wearing it could lead to some awkward conversations. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-yin-yang-type-symbol-that-used-three-characters/497599/10 "2009-05-26T14:08:26Z")
[This](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Radioactive.svg) and [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Biohazard_symbol.svg) have three parts symmetrically located…but maybe not what you are after. Apparenly [Trefoil](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trefoil) is the name for the category of symbol. Celtic knots may be worth investigating, as Scathach’s link suggests. ---
**Author:** ![chromaticity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@chromaticity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chromaticity)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-yin-yang-type-symbol-that-used-three-characters/497599/11 "2009-05-26T14:43:28Z")
> [@phi2dao](#): > > Perhaps you’d like a mitsu tomoe? > [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/tomoe](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/tomoe) Ah, yes. I vote for this one too. It always reminded me of a shuriken that I used to own.