Artwork of Larry Vienneau Jr: Sanzuwu, Yatagarasu, and Samjok-o

The Three Legged Birds- Sanzuwu, Yatagarasu, and Samjok-o

various Asian Logos, temple votives, and signs with Three Legged Crow

The three-legged bird is found throughout the world in mythology and religions. It is most prevalent in Asian cultures.

Japan National Football Team logo

· In Chinese mythology and culture, the three-legged crow is called the Sanzuwu and is responsible for the sun’s passage across the sky. The earliest known depiction of a three-legged crow appears in Neolithic pottery of the Yangzhou culture. The Sanzuwu is used in the decoration of formal imperial silk garments of the Western Han Dynasty 202 BC -220 AD depicts a Sanzuwu perched on a tree.

In Japanese mythology, this flying creature is a raven or a Jungle Crow

called Yatagarasu and the appearance of the great bird is interpreted as evidence of the will of Heaven or divine intervention in human affairs. This great crow was sent from heaven as a guide for Emperor Jimmu (reigned 18 February 660 BC - 9 April 585 BC) on his initial journey from the region that would become Kumano.

In Korean mythology, it is known as Samjok-o. During the period of the Koguryo Kingdom 37 BCE–668 CE, the Samjok-o was a highly regarded emblem of power, thought greater than both the dragon and the Korean phoenix.

Newgrange triskele

The three legs symbolize Heaven, Earth, and Humanity. It is one of the most commonly ancient images of a raven, appearing in China, Japan, and Korea, Neolithic sites of Newgrange, Celtic art, Scandinavian art, Ancient Italian art, Egyptian art, and cultures throughout Africa. Contrary to popular belief that this image is Asian it may be have originated in the West. Coins from the western Mediterranean showed the sun, as a disk from which radiated three legs united at the thighs.

The triskele, a motif characteristic of the European Celts of the Iron Age, is related to the triple spiral of which there is a fine Neolithic example at Newgrange, Ireland. Further south, the association of three-legged birds with the sun is reported to extend to the mythologies of Egypt and other parts of North Africa.

Three-Legged Birds. Acrylic and gold and Copper Leaf. 2014

“The Three-Legged Birds” is one of my most popular prints. My original version was a 5-inch x 7-inch etching. I have re-made the image as a painting; a relief print and an 8 x 10 print.

Carving the black plate for my four-color relief Three-Legged Bird

When I started researching my Three-Legged Birds I did a thorough internet search. I used different search engines, different names (blackbird, crow, raven, birds) as well as Asian names. I found many ancient as well as contemporary images. I knew that my image needed to be unique.

original etching with paintings I

I made a conscious decision to make my interpretation distinctive and unlike any other version or any other artist's vision. I made every part specific to my drawing. I intentionally made the head smaller than a real crow. I made the wings broader than any crow as well. The wings were also a combination of raven and eagle wings. My bird also had very specific talons on my bird, I tried to make each expressive and unique, so unique that they would only be found on my drawing. My tail feathers are also configured so that they would not be found on any other bird drawing. So, my version is intentionally unexpected, unlike anything found in nature or in any other images of this mythic bird. I even titled it differently. Instead of the usual Three-Legged “Crow” or “Raven”, mine is “birds”.

Like my print “Inquisition” I added “Three-legged Birds” un-watermarked to a membership-only Printmakers site, assuming the images would be respected. I added watermarked images but by then my three-legged birds had been set free un-credited into the abyss of the internet. I have been chasing them ever since. I did not know it at the time but my version would become a very popular version, often copied and mimicked. My effort to make my bird unique was a huge help when I found copyright violations of my image. Since my etching appeared in 2011, there has been a cluster of similar images that directly lead back to my print.

It was being used by a French Graffiti artist, minus one leg

It was used by an Israeli micro Brewery without permission. when I discovered it they added my name and a promise of beer that never arrived :(

A New Zealand Designer used my image on a Mock-up product design

this is supposed to be a tattoo design idea. Obviously, my image was traced.

tattoos

I have found that my Three Legged Bird is most popular with Tattoo artists. I have very mixed feelings about this. On one hand, I feel kind of honored to have people wanting my images tattooed onto their bodies. On the other hand, I wonder if these people know that the artwork was conceived by me and not the tattoo artist. I know that some clients bring my artwork into the tattoo shops but I have to wonder how many times the tattoo artist use my images afterwards. I have found dozens of these tattoos online. I usually ask for credit if it is on a website and a promise that they will not use it again. I find it particularly irksome when the tattoo artist calls this his artwork, it really isn’t, he copied it. A vast majority of the artists understand and happily give credit. Some are not so kind. Either way, I enforce my copyright because, if I don't, I could lose it. Here are a few examples.