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[[File:Three Wise Monkeys,Tosho-gu Shrine.JPG|thumb|The three wise monkeys at the Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō, {{wipe|Japan}}]]

The '''three wise monkeys''' are a pictorial maxim, embodying the [[Social:Proverb|proverb]]ial principle '''"see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil"'''.<ref>Wolfgang Mieder. 1981. "The Proverbial Three Wise Monkeys," ''Midwestern Journal of Language and Folklore'', 7: 5-
38.</ref> The three monkeys are '''Mizaru''', covering his eyes, who sees no evil; '''Kikazaru''', covering his ears, who hears no evil; and '''Iwazaru''', covering his mouth, who speaks no evil.<ref>Oldest reference to the correct monkey names in English. Source:<br />
* {{cite book |last= Japan Society of London |first= |title= Transactions and proceedings of the Japan Society, London, Volume 1 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=X-oVAAAAYAAJ&dq=Mizaru+Kikazaru+Iwazaru |year= 1893 |publisher= Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner and Co. |isbn= |page= 98 }}</ref> Lafcadio Hearn refers to them as the '''three mystic apes''' in his ''Glimpses of unfamiliar Japan'' (volume 2, page 127).

There are various meanings ascribed to the monkeys and the proverb including associations with being of good mind, speech and action. In the Western world the phrase is often used to refer to those who deal with impropriety by [[Philosophy:Turning a blind eye|turning a blind eye]].<ref name=searching>{{cite web|title=Searching for the fourth monkey in a corrupted world|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2011/04/21/opinion/Searching-for-the-fourth-monkey-in-a-corrupted-wor-30153534.html|website=The Nation|accessdate=19 June 2017|author=Pornpimol Kanchanalak|location=Thailand|date=21 April 2011|deadurl=bot: unknown|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828032149/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2011/04/21/opinion/Searching-for-the-fourth-monkey-in-a-corrupted-wor-30153534.html|archivedate=28 August 2015|df=}}</ref> 

Outside Japan the monkeys' names are sometimes given as ''Mizaru'', ''Mikazaru'',<ref>[http://www.google.com/search?q=Mikazaru&tbs=cdr%3A1%2Ccd_min%3A%2Ccd_max%3A1%2F1%2F1985&tbm=bks Oldest references (1926–1984) for ''Mikazaru'' in Google Books]
</ref> and ''Mazaru'',<ref>Oldest reference of the incorrect ''Mazaru'' in Google Books. Source:<br />
* {{cite book |last= Anderson |first= Isabel |title= The spell of Japan |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=B4JCAAAAIAAJ&dq=Mazaru+monkey+OR+monkeys+OR+ape+OR+apes&q=Mazaru |year= 1920 |publisher= Page |isbn= |page= 379 }}
</ref> as the last two names were corrupted from the Japanese originals.<ref>{{cite book |last=Worth |first=Fred L. |title= The Trivia Encyclopedia |year= 1974 |publisher= Brooke House |isbn= 978-0-912588-12-4 |page=262|title-link=The Trivia Encyclopedia }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Shipley |first= Joseph Twadell |title= The Origins of English Words: A Discursive Dictionary of Indo-European Roots |url= http://www.google.com.au/books?id=m1UKpE4YEkEC&pg=PA249&ots=L6b6SXWuAe&dq=Mikazaru+mazaru&ei=8fe_Ru2ACJKmpQKat_SvDA&sig=secKJtH70tOAeQcNTNS6LzEMiGA|year= 2001 |publisher= [[Organization:Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University]] Press |isbn= 978-0-8018-6784-2 |page= 249 }}</ref> The monkeys are [[Biology:Japanese macaque|Japanese macaque]]s, a common species in Japan.

==Origin==
[[File:koshinscroll.jpg|thumb|right|Kōshin scroll with the three monkeys|right]]
[[File:Oak Ridge Wise Monkeys.jpg|thumb|A World War II poster directed at participants in the [[Physics:Manhattan Project|Manhattan Project]]]]
The source that popularized this pictorial [[Philosophy:Maxim|maxim]] is a 17th-century carving over a door of the famous Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō, {{wipe|Japan}}. The carvings at  Tōshō-gū Shrine were carved by Hidari Jingoro, and believed to have incorporated  [[Biography:Confucius|Confucius]]’s Code of Conduct, using the monkey as a way to depict man’s life cycle. There are a total of eight panels, and the iconic three wise monkeys picture comes from panel 2.  The philosophy, however, probably originally came to Japan with a Tendai-Buddhist legend, from China in the 8th century (Nara Period). It has been suggested that the figures represent the three dogmas of the so-called middle school of the sect.

In [[Social:Chinese language|Chinese]], a similar phrase exists in the late ''Analects of Confucius'' from 2nd to 4th century B.C.: "Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety" ({{lang|zh|非禮勿視，非禮勿聽，非禮勿言，非禮勿動}}).<ref>Original text: 論語 {{zh icon}}, Analects {{en icon}}</ref> It may be that this phrase was shortened and simplified after it was brought into Japan.

It is through the [[Religion:Kōshin|Kōshin]] rite of [[Religion:Folk religion|folk religion]] that the most significant examples are presented.  The Kōshin belief or practice is a Japanese folk religion with Chinese [[Philosophy:Taoism|Taoism]] origins and ancient [[Philosophy:Shinto|Shinto]] influence. It was founded by Tendai Buddhist monks in the late 10th century. A considerable number of stone monuments can be found all over the eastern part of Japan around [[Place:Tokyo|Tokyo]]. During the later part of the Muromachi period, it was customary to display stone pillars depicting the three monkeys during the observance of Kōshin.

Though the teaching had nothing to do with monkeys, the concept of the three monkeys originated from a simple play on words. The saying in Japanese is {{nihongo|''mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru''|見ざる, 聞かざる, 言わざる|extra2="see not, hear not, speak not"}}, where the ''-zaru'' is a negative conjugation on the three verbs, matching ''zaru'', the modified form of {{nihongo|''saru''|猿}} "monkey" used in compounds. Thus the saying (which does not include any specific reference to "evil") can also be interpreted as referring to three monkeys.

The shrine at Nikko is a Shinto shrine, and the monkey is an extremely important being in the [[Philosophy:Shinto|Shinto]] religion. The monkey is believed to be the messenger of the Hie Shinto shrines, which also have connections with Tendai Buddhism. There are even important festivals that are celebrated during the [[Unsolved:Monkey (zodiac)|year of the Monkey]] (occurring every twelve years) and a special festival is celebrated every sixteenth year of the [[Religion:Kōshin|Kōshin]].

"The Three Mystic Apes" (Sambiki Saru) were described as "the attendants of Saruta Hito no Mikoto or Kōshin, the God of the Roads".<ref>{{cite web|last=Joly|first=Henri L.|title=Legend in Japanese Art|url=https://archive.org/stream/legendinjapanese00jolyuoft/legendinjapanese00jolyuoft_djvu.txt|publisher=J. Lane|accessdate=13 December 2011|location=London, New York|page=10|year=1908}}</ref> The Kōshin festival was held on the 60th day of the calendar. It has been suggested that during the Kōshin festival, according to old beliefs, one’s bad deeds might be reported to heaven "unless avoidance actions were taken…". It has been theorized that the three Mystic Apes, Not Seeing, Hearing, or Speaking, may have been the "things that one has done wrong in the last 59 days".

According to other accounts, the monkeys caused the ''Sanshi'' and ''Ten-Tei'' not to see, say or hear the bad deeds of a person. The {{nihongo|''Sanshi''|三尸}} are the [[Religion:Three Corpses|Three Corpses]] living in everyone's body. The Sanshi keep track of the good deeds and particularly the bad deeds of the person they inhabit. Every 60 days, on the night called {{nihongo|''Kōshin-Machi''|庚申待}}, if the person sleeps, the Sanshi will leave the body and go to {{nihongo|''Ten-Tei''|天帝}}, the Heavenly God, to report about the deeds of that person. Ten-Tei will then decide to punish bad people, making them ill, shortening their time alive, and in extreme cases putting an end to their lives. Those believers of Kōshin who have reason to fear will try to stay awake during Kōshin nights. This is the only way to prevent the Sanshi from leaving their body and reporting to Ten-Tei.

An ancient representation of the "no see, no hear, no say, no do" can be found in four golden figurines in the Zelnik Istvan Southeast Asian Gold Museum. These golden statues date from the 6th to 8th century. The figures look like tribal human people with not very precise body carvings and strong phallic symbols.<ref>[http://www.zelnik-collection.com Cultures and Civilisations in Southeast Asia]. Private museum in Budapest, Hungary.{{Failed verification|date=December 2011}}</ref> This set indicates that the philosophy comes from very ancient roots.

It is not clear how or when the saying travelled; in Ethiopia the Ge'ez language has the saying "Let the eye fast, let the mouth fast, let the ears fast."<ref>Afeworq Tareqeny. 2008 (Ethiopian calendar). ''Anəggarä məsale zägə'əz''. Addis Ababa. p. 9.</ref>

== Meaning of the proverb ==
[[File:Three Wise Monkeys (2010).jpg|thumb|right|220px|Three wise monkeys on the beach in Barcelona]]
Just as there is disagreement about the origin of the phrase, there are differing explanations of the meaning of "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil".
* In Buddhist tradition, the tenets of the proverb are about not dwelling on evil thoughts.
* In the Western world both the proverb and the image are often used to refer to a lack of moral responsibility on the part of people who refuse to acknowledge impropriety, [[Philosophy:Turning a blind eye|looking the other way]] or feigning ignorance.<ref name="Olesen">{{cite news|title=How about monkey see, monkey DON'T do next time?|url=http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/columnists/how-about-monkey-see-monkey-dont-do-next-time-132842328.html|accessdate=25 July 2012|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|date=29 October 2011|author=Tom Oleson}}</ref> 
* It may also signify a code of silence in gangs, or organized crime.

== Variations ==
Sometimes there is a fourth monkey depicted, '''Shizaru''', who symbolizes the principle of "do no evil". He may be shown crossing his arms or covering his genitals. Yet another variation has the fourth monkey hold its nose to avoid a stench and has been dubbed "smell no evil" accordingly.<ref name=searching/>
[[File:Four wise monkeys.jpg|thumb|Sculpture of four monkeys, the additional one resting its hands in its lap]]

=== Rajneesh movement ===

According to Osho [[Biography:Rajneesh|Rajneesh]], the monkey symbolism originated in ancient Hindu tradition and Buddhist monks spread this symbolism across Asia. The original Hindu and Buddhist version has four monkeys and the fourth monkey covers his genitals.The Buddhist version means this as "Don't do anything evil".

In Hindu original version the meaning of the fourth monkey is totally different from the popular Buddhist version. It means, "Hide your pleasures. Hide your enjoyment, don't show it to anybody."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oshorajneesh.com/download/osho-books/zen/I_Celebrate_Myself.pdf|title=I Celebrate Myself: God Is No Where: Life Is Now Here|last=Osho|first=Chandra Mohan Jain|date=|website=|access-date=}}</ref>

Osho Rajneesh gave his own meaning regarding this. The first monkey denotes 'Don't listen to the truth because it will disturb all your consoling lies'. The second monkey denotes 'Don't look at the truth; otherwise your God will be dead and your heaven and hell will disappear'. The third monkey denotes 'Don't speak the truth, otherwise you will be condemned, crucified, poisoned, tortured by the whole crowd, the unconscious people. The fourth monkey denotes "Keep your pleasures, your joys, hidden. Don't let anybody know that you are a cheerful man, a blissful man, an ecstatic man, because that will destroy your very life. It is dangerous".<ref>Osho on zen. "I celebrate myself: God is no where, Life is now here". Chapter 1: The grand Rebellion. Question 1.</ref>

== Cultural influences ==
[[File:Three wise monkeys figure.JPG|thumb|220px|right| Brass casting]]
The three wise monkeys, and the associated proverb, are known throughout [[Earth:Asia|Asia]] and in the Western world. They have been a motif in pictures, such as the ukiyo-e (Japanese woodblock printings) by Keisai Eisen, and are frequently represented in modern culture.

[[Biography:Mahatma Gandhi|Mahatma Gandhi]]'s one notable exception to his lifestyle of non-possession was a small statue of the three monkeys - Bapu, Ketan and Bandar. Today, a larger representation of the three monkeys is prominently displayed at the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, where Gandhi lived from 1915 to 1930 and from where he departed on his famous salt march. Gandhi's statue also inspired a 2008 artwork by Subodh Gupta, ''Gandhi's Three Monkeys''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.qatar-tribune.com/data/20120528/content.asp?section=nation1_5|title=QMA unveils Gandhi's 'Three Monkeys' at Katara|work=Qatar Tribune|date=28 May 2012|accessdate=21 June 2012|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606062409/http://www.qatar-tribune.com/data/20120528/content.asp?section=nation1_5|archivedate=6 June 2012|df=}}</ref> 

The three monkeys are depicted in the trial scene in the 1968 ''Planet of the Apes''. An example of semiotics, as the judges mimic the see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil monkeys.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063442/trivia|title=Planet of the Apes (1968)|author=|date=|publisher=|accessdate=4 April 2018|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>

The maxim inspired an award-winning 2008 Turkish film by director Nuri Bilge Ceylan called ''Three Monkeys'' (''Üç Maymun'').
<!-- Many album covers and other media refer to the monkeys or the proverb—too many to mention. Please don't add these here. See talk page section "Trivia section of epic proportions". -->

== Unicode characters ==
[[Unicode]] provides [[Emoji|emoji]] representations of the monkeys in the [[Emoticons (Unicode block)|Emoticons block]] as follows:<ref>[https://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode6.0.0/ Unicode 6.0.0] characters in Emoticons block: [https://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/1f648/index.htm SEE-NO-EVIL MONKEY ‹🙈›], [https://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/1f649/index.htm HEAR-NO-EVIL MONKEY ‹🙉›] and [https://www.fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/1f64a/index.htm SPEAK-NO-EVIL MONKEY ‹🙊›].</ref>
* '''Mizaru''': {{unichar|1F648|SEE-NO-EVIL MONKEY|size=150%|nlink=Emoticons#Unicode}}
* '''Kikazaru''': {{unichar|1F649|HEAR-NO-EVIL MONKEY|size=150%|nlink=Emoticons#Unicode}}
* '''Iwazaru''': {{unichar|1F64A|SPEAK-NO-EVIL MONKEY|size=150%|nlink=Emoticons#Unicode}}

==See also==
* Buddhist [[Philosophy:Noble Eightfold Path|Noble Eightfold Path]]: Right speech and right action
* Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta, "good thoughts, good words, good deeds"  in [[Religion:Zoroastrianism#Principal beliefs|Zoroastrianism]]
* Lashon hara, prohibition of gossip in [[Religion:Judaism|Judaism]]
* [[Philosophy:Manasa, vacha, karmana|Manasa, vacha, karmana]], three Sanskrit words referring to mind, speech and actions
* [[Philosophy:Three Vajras|Three Vajras]], a formulation in Tibetan Buddhism referring to body, speech and mind
* The colloquial expression "brass monkey", a possible reference to the three monkeys
* [[Philosophy:Willful blindness|Willful blindness]], knowingly refraining from pursuing available information, or knowingly sheltering oneself from information
* [[Social:Plausible deniability|Plausible deniability]], being able to convincingly claim ignorance of something incriminating

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
* {{cite book |last=Titelman|first=Gregory Y. |title=Random House Dictionary of America's Popular Proverbs and Sayings |edition=second |year=2000 |publisher={{wipe|Random House}} |location=New York |isbn=978-0-375-70584-7}}
* Archer Taylor, “Audi, Vidi, Tace” and the three monkeys
* A. W. Smith, Folklore, Vol. 104, No. ½ pp. 144–150 "On the Ambiguity of the Three Wise Monkeys"

==External links==
* [http://www.kcn-net.org/koshin/sanen/index.html Collector's picture gallery]
* [http://www.three-monkeys.info Information compiled by collectors]
* [http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/monkey-saru-koushin.html Monkey(saru)-Kōshin] on onmarkproductions.com
* [http://thethreemonkeys.com More Information compiled by Collectors]

[[Category:Monkeys]]

{{Sourceattribution|Three wise monkeys|1}}