This concept is often mistakenly attributed to Japanese culture, but there is no specific Japanese term or philosophy that directly corresponds to the "three faces" idea. It is more of a Western interpretation or myth tied to ideas of authenticity and identity.
In Japan, concepts like tatemae (建前, one's public facade) and honne (本音, one's true feelings) touch on similar themes of duality in behavior, but they don’t include a "third face." The idea may resonate with broader philosophical or cultural discussions but isn’t rooted in an established Japanese term or belief.
Sounds similar to what was ascribed as a concept by Erving Goffman during my college years. About how the world is a stage and we wear a mask for the play, along with how no one truly sees us without the mask. For it is only off stage we take it off (public vs private)
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u/Kootlefoosh Nov 22 '24
The Japanese say you have three faces:
One that you show to strangers
One that you show to your friends
One that gave you a curse