the three imperishables, three ways to distinguish oneself that aren't forgotten by history: through one's virtue 立德[li4 de2], one's service 立功[li4 gong1] and one's writings 立言[li4 yan2] (from the Zuo Zhuan 左傳|左传[Zuo3 Zhuan4])
三
=
一
+
二
:
Mnemonic symbol: a Cartesian coordinate system with three (三) axes.
Socrates (s-) is performing in front of the anthill (-an1). He created an electrical flute by attaching a large capacitor (二) to the flute (一), so that he can get the attention of all the ants. Moreover, he's balancing on a Cartesian coordinate system (三). Unfortunately, only three (三) ants stop to watch the performance.
不
=
丆
+
卜
:
Bruno Bear (bu) is setting up a wind wheel (丆) with a voodoo staff (卜) in the space station's bathroom (Ø4). He also puts a "forbidden" sign (mnemonic symbol for 不) on it, to make clear that it may not (不) be stopped.
朽
=
丂
+
木
:
Marie Curie (xi) visits the outhouse (ou3) in late summer and finds an old rotten (朽) Christmas tree (木). In fact the tree is so rotten that she can't endure the smell and has to put on a breathing mask (丂).