How did an Egyptian trinity symbol of three fishes end up in Japan in the 5th Century CE? And why did Buddhists there put the trinity on a giant foot, along with other symbols? Those who follow Buddhism, ancient Egyptian beliefs, or who hold the trinity as part of their beliefs may intuitively know. And what it means is highly significant for all, particularly as it’s shown on the Buddhapada, or Buddha Pada, Buddha’s Footprint.

As you may know, the Trinity symbol is important to numerous world belief systems and dates back to the Neolithic era, around 4400-3600 BCE, with the Triskelion, a triple-spiral. There are examples carved into stone at Newgrange, Ireland. Another example is the logo for this page, featuring three fishes united at the head, originating in Egypt. But the symbol is seen across so many belief systems: Christianity, Buddhism, Celtic, Vedic, and nature-based spirituality, as with the Triple Goddess.

As widespread as it is, the meanings for the Trinity are even wider, although there is commonality. And as I’ve shared before, the best part is that it is a unifying symbol that shows a tangible connection between seemingly unrelated beliefs. Evidence that our origin story grows as one branching tree seeded in antiquity.

The Footprints of Buddha

Before there was any anthropomorphic representation of Buddha, there was the Buddhapada, or “feet of the Buddha” in Sanskrit. The earliest examples date to the second century BCE (200 BCE to 101 BCE) in relief sculptures. Symbols on the feet often include the Dharmachakra (the Wheel of Dharma), the lotus, the swastika, and the triratna. The latter could be represented as the trident, but not as most would know it in the West. In esoteric understanding, it can symbolize having faith, knowledge, and just conduct.

Importantly, it was deliberate not to represent Buddha as a human being. Instead, followers knew to avoid it. Rather than worshipping an idol, the goal was to follow in Buddha’s path of enlightenment. Arguably like Jesus, he never claimed to be a god and did not want to be worshipped like one.

Therefore, the goal for spiritual aspirants was to follow in their footsteps of enlightenment. As in ancient Egypt, the goal was to “Come Forth by Day” into the light, yet most know this only as the “Book of the Dead.” (If you don’t already know, I study ancient Egyptian beliefs and recognize numerous connections with most other belief systems worldwide.)

Similar to the Buddhapada, Egyptian deities were often depicted with animal heads meant as layered symbols and theophanies rather than literal idols of worship. It’s an important distinction lost on many. Meanwhile, critics are generally worshipping images of some kind but don’t recognize it.

An Egyptian Trinity on Buddha’s Foot

So why did the Egyptian Trinity appear on a Buddhist symbol in Japan? From what I could find, it’s from Nanshoin-ji Temple in Japan, on a replica erected in 2010. However, the replica is from a Buddhapada, which may date to the 5th century CE, or from 401 to 500.

According to a quick Google search, the symbols on the Buddhapada include:

• The Dharma Wheel representing the “Eightfold Path” to liberation
• Three Fish with One Head: (Fish Chakra) A rare motif from Egypt for the Triratna (Three Jewels): the Buddha, the Dharma (teachings), and the Sangha (monastic community)
• Conch Shells (Shankhas) on the toes, representing the awakening of Buddha’s teachings (esoterically also related to Chakras)
• The Conch Shells may also be Whorls or Swastikas, ancient signs of good fortune, cosmic balance, and purity.
• Smaller footprint representing the spiritual aspirant’s path
• A Sun/Moon (Infinite Knot)
• Golden Fish (Matsya) above the wheel symbolizing spiritual liberation and swimming fearlessly through the “ocean of suffering” (samsara)
• Text in Siddham script (Bonji in Japan) which may translate to “May all beings be happy,” “Success!”
• The overall image serves as a “Spiritual Map” inviting followers to “walk in the Buddha’s footsteps” toward awakening.
• A long vertical line cutting through the fish symbol is the Axis Mundi, the cosmic or world axis. The vertical spine connects different cosmic realms, serving as a pillar linking the terrestrial and celestial worlds. The intersecting point is a junction that roots the Dharma (cosmic law and teachings) directly at the center of the universe. (Source from the Allen Ginsberg project)
• The Axis Mundi forms a cross which has connections to Christianity, the Tree of Life World Pillar and the Caduceus.
• The intersection of the Axis Mundi is directly over the Trinity symbol, which draws comparison to the image of the crucifixion. (my note, not from Google)

Images of the Buddhapada and One-Eyed Fish Symbols

Images Above: Bottom right: This specific carving of the “Three Fish with One Head” (三鱼共首) motif is located in Ping’an Zhuang Village

(平安壮寨), situated within the scenic Longsheng Rice Terraces region in Guangxi, China. [1, 2]

The emblem is carved directly into a historic covered bridge in the village and serves as a traditional symbol representing unity, harmony, and shared origins among the local ethnic communities. [1, 2]

Top right: The image shows a low-relief stone carving of three fish sharing a single head, a well-known symbolic motif found on a wall at the Bangalore Fort in Bengaluru, India. Dates back to the 16th–18th centuries. Symbolism: Similar “three fish with one head” motifs appear across various ancient and medieval cultures, representing interconnectedness, trinity concepts, or cosmic unity in Asian, Vedic, and Buddhist iconography.

From Egypt to India to South Asia, Japan, and Beyond

Center: The Buddhapada at Nanshoin Temple in Japan. Credit: Midori Kawashima. Photo by Midori Kawashima, October 2013

Left: The image appears to show an antique South Asian manuscript painting or drawing on paper, depicting a central blue-skinned divine figure—likely representing Lord Krishna or a related deity—seated in a posture atop a large blooming lotus, flanked by two female attendants or gopis with their arms around the central figure’s shoulders. In the upper right corner, there is a triangular banner or flag containing a distinct symbolic motif of three conjoined fish sharing a single head, an ancient and widespread transnational symbol found across various cultural, mystical, and esoteric traditions in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The margins feature handwritten annotations and sketches in an Indic script. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Credit: The Allen Ginsberg Project

A First Buddha Depiction

For 400 to 500 years during the Aniconic period, Buddhist art represented the Buddha with sacred symbols like the Buddhapada, an empty throne, the Dharma wheel, and the Bodhi Tree. (Circa 5th century BCE to the 1st century CE.)

Afterward, this changed, with one of the first depictions on a gold coin from Tillya Tepe in Afghanistan dating to 2,000 years ago. The coin, like the Buddha’s footprint, brings together many belief systems.

The coin was found in a warrior’s grave and featured a man rolling a Dharma wheel, with the inscription “He who sets in motion the Wheel of the Law.” Curiously, he wears a hat similar to Egyptian Thoth or Greek Hermes. (the same being) On the back is a lion with the inscription “The lion who dispelled fear” and the symbol of the bull, called Nandipada or Triratna. Thus, we have two of the symbols, the wheel and the Triratna, from the Buddapada. (Note that the word Triskelion has lion in it.)

An earlier coin showed the Greek Zeus and the Wheel of the Law.

Hermes or Thoth or Buddha or Vishnu?

Interestingly, this one figure on the coin has connections to Egyptian Thoth, Greek Hermes, Roman Mercury, and the triratna trident symbol connects to India with Vishnu and Shiva. Likewise the earlier coin connects Buddhism with Zeus, who is connected to Amun in Egypt.

From Wikipedia:

“Hermes was considered in ancient Greece as a psychopomp, an intercessor between mortals and the divine, and conductor of souls into the afterlife. Besides similarities in metaphysical roles, the similarity between the names of their respective mothers, Maya for the Buddha and Maia for Hermes, have often been noted, as well as the stories of their miraculous births.”

Triratna Trident and the Sacred White Bull

Another fascinating note is that the Triratna symbol is also called the Nandipada, the symbol of a sacred white bull. In Hinduism, the Nandipada is the “Foot of the Nandi,” the sacred white bull of Lord Shiva. Nandi could also take human or whale form, and his name means “happy,” “joy,” and “satisfaction” in Sanskrit. According to the yogic belief, Nandi is considered the “guru within,” the mind dedicated to the absolute, who is Shiva.

In some depictions, Nandi has three eyes to symbolize divine wisdom and connection to Lord Shiva.

From the perspective of Google’s AI:

• The Mind in Constant Meditation: In Hindu temples, Nandi is never depicted looking at the deity with anticipation or asking for something. He sits in absolute stillness and alertness, gazing directly at Shiva. This represents a mind that is not seeking answers, but is simply awake and present in the divine consciousness.
• The Companion of the Soul: As Shiva’s vahana (vehicle), Nandi signifies that the physical body and the mind’s animalistic instincts have been mastered and channeled toward spiritual liberation.
• Alertness Without Agitation: Yogis look to Nandi as the perfect disciple because he embodies pratidhwani—the echo of the divine. He does not sleep or daydream; he is fully alert, waiting patiently for the ultimate truth.

Nandi the Bull and the Egyptian Sphinx

Thus, if you consider Nandi the companion of the soul, this symbolism is comparable to that of the Egyptian Sphinx. Both symbols hold meaning regarding the subjugation of the ego and the guarding of thresholds, and are eternal witnesses to cosmic truth.

And there was also a white bull in Egypt called Bahka, or Buchis, whose name meant “the shining BA” (shining soul) of Hermonthis. However, I find the comparison between Nandi and the Sphinx compelling, as it symbolizes the human aspirant on the path to enlightenment, connecting with their higher self or soul.

Any day now, the Sphinx in Egypt will be in direct alignment with the higher Sphinx in the sky, the constellation Leo. I am reminded of the phrase, “The lion who dispelled fear” found on the ancient gold coin mentioned earlier. A cosmic reminder or our eternal connection to Source.

Symbolic Parallels Between the White Bull and the Sphinx

The Animal Elements	The Bull (representing raw strength, virility, impulses, and the physical body).	The Lion’s Body (representing raw power, wild instincts, and solar energy).
The Divine Elements	Gazing at Shiva (the absolute, unmanifest consciousness).	The Human Head / Face of a Pharaoh (representing intellect, divine rule, and spiritual awakening).
The Core Meaning	The wild bull is tamed and sits in absolute stillness, its energy fully channeled toward the divine within.	The human intellect sits atop and completely controls the beast, showing spirit triumphing over matter.

A South Korean Three Fish Talisman

As I’ve said before, I often find what I’m going to write about through synchronicities. By chance, I discovered that my blog had been found by spiritual authors across the world, including in South Korea.

According to a blog on Naver, the South Korean blog, the Egyptian trinity is called the Ilmok samsin-eo, or “one-eyed, three-bodied fish.” As it turns out, it’s also a mythical creature, symbolic motif, and folk talisman deeply rooted in Korean shamanism and traditional philosophy. It could be used as a healing talisman to cure eye illnesses. Amazing!

Here’s what Google translated from Korean blogs on the fish symbol:

The concept represents the traditional Korean idea of Samshin (三神 / Three Gods/Spirits), which holds that the universe, or the ultimate divine entity, is one in essence but functions as three.

• The One Eye represents the single, absolute truth, core essence, or supreme deity (Il-shin).
• The Three Bodies represent the three distinct manifestations, actions, or realms—often tied to birth, growth, and fate, or the harmony of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity (Cheon-Ji-In). [1, 2]

This visual concept is highly similar to the Sam-Taeguk (the three-colored taegeuk symbol) commonly seen in Korean culture, which represents absolute balance and the cosmic trinity.

Writer Solbon expressed that, seeing the comparison to the Egyptian trinity, the symbol could be “a prime example demonstrating that our history and culture can serve as the origin of human history and culture.” And I would agree.

Writer Samsirang discussed the symbol’s meaning from Mahayana Buddhism:

“The model that best represents the meaning of Ilmok Samsin-eo is the “Buddha’s footprint.” This is because the Buddha is represented by the acts of Jibilhamsam, [집일함삼 / 執一含三], which involves grasping one to embrace three, and Hoesamgwiil, [(회삼귀일 / 會三歸一] which involves gathering three to return to one. For this reason, Ilmok Samsin-eo holds a meaning that aligns most closely with the Buddha’s footprint. Consequently, Ilmok Samsin-eo has also appeared as a symbol of the goddess Hathor, the embodiment of love and abundance, alongside the lotus flower, which represents resurrection in relation to enlightenment.”

The Trinity As a Global Symbol

So what conclusions can we draw from the Buddhapada and the incorporation of an ancient Egyptian trinity? I will share my personal insights after years of studying esoteric Egyptian meanings in depth. That said, I’m always learning. Of the many meanings of the trinity, one primary meaning is the three levels of consciousness within everyone: physical, astral, and causal. We always have a consciousness, subconscious, and unconscious: the three layers of the mind and existence. In this way, aren’t we all multidimensional?

As we’ve seen, the images of animals are meant as symbols conveying deeper meaning. The fish, a symbol of Pisces and found in one of the Holy Land’s earliest churches, could also serve as a means of conveying abstract forms. Don’t take things so literally and you are often more likely to reveal the true meaning.

Consciousness Arising and Proliferating

In that spirit, I believe they may represent the earliest primordial conscious beings which arose from the Absolute. This aligns with what one person wrote about the fish symbol in India:

According to this person, the Three Fish symbol is related to the zodiac and the first Avatar of Vishnu, a fish.

“The Three Fish with One Head is a symbol of the Eternal Geometry or Eternal Law of the Vedic Rishis and their 12-month Yajna or Sacrificial Year (aka the Zodiac), which Vishnu’s Avatars (the first being a FISH) are periodically [yuge-yuge] tasked with recovering and preserving,” shared Praveen Mohan Sangha on Facebook.

At that moment, duality began as they emerged from the One, forming a causal, astral, and physical consciousness. Father, Mother and child: Mind, Soul, and Body. But at all times they are directly connected to Source, Ra, and Soul of Ra, hence the shared eye. But others have different names for this depending on their geography and belief system. Nevertheless, the meaning overall remains the same.

This is how we experience existence, yet most remain unaware of their permanent connections, treading in murky water instead of rising like the Lotus. At all times we are all sharing the very same ultimate undefined consciousness. This is where the “fish” began swimming and what evolved into everything we know and experience.

Like the Triratna and the symbolic white bull, the three fish could represent a spiritual aspirant’s attainment of wisdom or gnosis. Was this the esoteric meaning of Jesus dividing and multiplying the fishes or divine ideas as some say?

Uniting with the divine is possible by understanding our origins from the primordial sea of consciousness. It’s the path of enlightenment, of coming forth by day, and the so-called “riddle of the Sphinx.” The Sphinx is another symbol of an enlightened human being who has mastered their physical, animal, and egoistic sides. Master of the Animals as seen globally.

Like Nandi, they remained focused on their higher self, alert and watching, for thousands of years. For a select few will attain Christ consciousness, and yet this possibility extends to all in the physical world, men and women alike. The key: leave behind your animal ego and realize you’ve always been directly connected to the divine.

Peace. Hetep. Amen.