What is Sanpaku? Theory, predictions, celebrities, eye looks and more!

Sanpaku eyes are, generally speaking, eyes where the iris (the colored part of the eye) does not reach the lower or upper eyelid, thus leaving a blank space when the person looks straight ahead. According to the Japanese, the term, which gained strength in the 1960s, thanks to George Ohsawa, means ‘three whites’, in reference to those spaces around the iris.

Much is speculated about the sanpaku eyes, as it is believed to have an influence on the way of life and even a direct relationship with people’s death. But calm down, this is not just speculation. Keep reading and you’ll understand why!

Normally, if a person is looking straight ahead, the iris, the one that contains the eye color, reaches from one end to the other, leaving the sclera (white part of the eyes) visible only on the sides.

Do the test! Go in the mirror and make your head as straight as possible, and if you can only see the two sides, congratulations, your eyes are nothing unusual. However, if you notice that your iris does not meet either end, your eyes are sanpaku. Read on to find out what your eyes can tell you about your future and even your death!

In 1965, macrobiotic theorist George Ohsawa published a book called “You Are All Sanpaku”. In the book, George states that having this condition is an indication that the body is out of alignment – mind, body and spirit.

Ohsawa’s idea is to make a comparison between the body and the position of the eyes, because the eyes, being balanced and symmetrical, reveal a balanced body. Sanpaku eyes don’t bring that balance and, depending on where the iris is, they mean different things.

Furthermore, sanpaku eyes, according to George, indicate clues to people’s fates. And although it sounds fanciful, the logic is simple. An unbalanced body, unbalanced actions and, consequently, an unbalanced destiny.

Although it is understood as a bad thing and even as a ‘bad omen’, among the Japanese, sanpaku are very popular, and are even used quite frequently in anime and manga, such as Naruto and Pokémon.

For the Japanese, people with sanpaku eyes are endowed with a lot of determination and strength and are usually in leadership positions and strong political action; in addition to being able to adapt to the most inhospitable environments. These are desirable traits among heroes and this explains the popularity of eyes in depictions of culture in Japan.

When George Ohsawa speaks, in 1965, about the imbalance that sanpaku eyes signify, he brings a series of elements to the discussion that were only widespread in the 1990s, when this idea gained strength here in the West.

Ohsawa is the advocate of the macrobiotic diet, which would be the solution to this physical, psychological and spiritual imbalance. Contrary to what many say, sanpaku eyes are not a kind of curse, it is just the body’s signal that something is not as it should be and, according to George, the macrobiotic diet is the key.

The idea behind the macrobiotic base is simple: to balance the yin and yang within each of us. After much study, George developed the diet that consists mainly of whole grains, vegetables and fresh fruits.

The book says that, throughout life, the lack of some nutrients will change the position of the eyes and, in this way, they will become further and further away from their central axis, thus causing sanpaku eyes. The macrobiotic diet, according to Ohsawa, is the cure for all of that.

After the book’s release, Ohsawa started talking about the subject in more visible places and even about personalities of the moment, such as John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe who had that kind of eyes. The personalities, unfortunately, had tragic ends and this fomented the rumors about the sanpaku having a direct bearing on people’s fate.

And all this mystique gained a lot of strength, especially here in the accident, because the personalities not only had tragic deaths, but their public lives were quite troubled and this, combined with the imbalance mentioned by George, made the theory be considered almost as a verdict.

Although the best known type is the one that leaves the sclera visible at the bottom, there are two types of sanpaku eyes, known as ‘Sanpaku Yin’ and ‘Sanpaku Yang’. And each of them has a meaning of the irregular functioning of the body.

There are many signs of the sanpaku, and some even believe that it can even tell if the person has homicidal or psychopathic tendencies. Keep reading to find out what the differences are between the two types and how to identify if you have either!

Sanpaku Yin is the model we hear the most about, the one where the white part is below the iris. In theory, George suggests that people with this type of eye are susceptible to irrational actions and put themselves in harm’s way most of the time.

Usually impulsive, they are endowed with a sense of heroism that often puts them in a vulnerable situation. Important names are on this list, such as Princess Diana, Abraham Lincoln, John Lennon and even Marilyn Monroe.

The Sanpaku Yang is a little less common, but its fame precedes it. In contrast to Sanpaku Yin, ‘Yang’ leaves a white stripe on top of the iris. And, according to George, the person who has them can have violent and even homicidal tendencies.

The best known name that has these eyes is Charles Manson, a serial killer who was responsible for the death of more than nine deaths in late 1969 in the United States. Of course, having Sanpaku Yang eyes doesn’t mean you’re a psychopath, but it’s a warning to, above all, start reading about the subject and how to control yourself.

It is worth mentioning that the exact angle for you to know whether or not you have sanpaku eyes is looking forward, because tilting your head can give the false impression that you have this type of eyes, even if you don’t have them.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the negative personality traits that sanpaku people have are not unique to the condition. That is, you can put yourself at risk in many situations and have aggressive tendencies and still not have sanpaku eyes.

Although for some the theory still seems very far-fetched and even playful, George used the notion of eye balance to build the entire base of the sanpaku. As the saying goes, the eyes are the mirror of the soul and reading these mirrors can indicate many illnesses.

A person who develops epileptic seizures, for example, usually has absence seizures first. These crises are nothing more than small breaks in the eyes. Proponents of sanpaku believe that the eyes are a reflection of the balance or lack of it within us and that, yes, they can be adjusted with an ideal diet.

The popularization of sanpaku was mainly due to the large number of public figures with the condition. John Lennon, John F. Kennedy, Lady Di and Marilyn Monroe are some of them.

However, anyone who thinks that sanpaku eyes are a thing of the past is wrong, as current figures such as Angelina Jolie, Robert Pattinson, Amy Winehouse and even Billie Eilish have this type of eyes. The condition can even be seen in the King and Queen of Pop.

Sanpaku eyes are generally not all that common, but neither are they rare. Much is speculated about the condition and longevity of the people who have them and, calm down, this type of eyes is not a death sentence, as some people think.

And, according to Ohsawa, with the ideal macrobiotic diet, you can completely circumvent and even ‘cure’ yourself. The life of a ‘Sanpaku Yin’ can be long indeed, he just needs to learn to preserve himself in some situations and prioritize his physical integrity. Keep reading to understand more about sanpaku and the quality of life of those who own them!

Although they don’t have specific data on the number of people who have these eyes, the sanpaku is common, if not popular. Even more so because it is a condition that may or may not be permanent.

The ‘sanpaku yin’ eyes, however, have been more documented than the ‘sanpaku yang’, but there is no precise data on whether they are rarer, since there is no real study on the number of sanpaku people in the world.

Popular predictions for the ‘sanpaku yin’ are of tragic and usually premature death. The public stories we know about people with these eyes were like that, so it’s understood as a repeating pattern. However, it is not a final sentence, just a consequence of a very risky and reckless lifestyle.

As for the ‘sanpaku yang’ eyes, the predictions are equally sad, since the tendencies to violence leave the life of those who have them very lonely and, even in extreme cases, a life in prison. Normally, ‘sanpaku yang’ people have a hard time bonding because of their short tempers. But with self-control, everything can be resolved.

Contrary to popular belief, sanpaku can indeed have a long life. The problem is usually linked to the quality of that life. Impulsive and aggressive people usually get into more trouble and do more thoughtless things.

If you have sanpaku eyes, take them more as a warning for you to ponder your actions and even some thoughts, because that is the real influence on your longevity, not the sanpaku itself. You are responsible for the actions you take, sanpaku is an important factor, but it can be controlled.

Except the macrobiotic diet, some orientals believe that consumption of some flower teas can ‘undo’ sanpaku eyes. And some even believe that they can re-center themselves throughout life.

Both teas and spontaneous ocular balance have no proven efficacy, they are just speculation. The diet, however, is the recommendation made by George Ohsawa, whose function is to restore the balance of mind, body and spirit. If you’re sanpaku, it’s worth trying the diet, as it’s the only official ‘cure’.

As the sanpaku has a given diagnosis of…