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	==See also==		==See also==
	~~{{Portal\|Japan\|Society\|Animals}}~~
	* Buddhist [[Noble Eightfold Path]]: Right speech and right action		* Buddhist [[Noble Eightfold Path]]: Right speech and right action
	* Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta, "good thoughts, good words, good deeds" in [[Zoroastrianism#Principal beliefs\|Zoroastrianism]]		* Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta, "good thoughts, good words, good deeds" in [[Zoroastrianism#Principal beliefs\|Zoroastrianism]]

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{{Short description|Pictorial maxim, embodying "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil"}}
{{For|the Turkish film|Three Monkeys}}
{{Redirect|Sanzaru|the game company|Sanzaru Games}}
{{Redirect|See no evil hear no evil|the 1989 comedy film|See No Evil, Hear No Evil}}
{{More footnotes|date=August 2010}}
[[File:The Three Wise Monkeys, Nikkō Tōshō-gū; April 2018.jpg|thumb|The three wise monkeys at the [[Nikkō Tōshō-gū|Tōshō-gū]] shrine in [[Nikkō]], Japan]]
[[File:Gandhiji's Three Monkeys.JPG|thumb|Representation of [[Mahatma Gandhi]]'s smaller statue of the three monkeys Bapu, Ketan and Bandar, at the [[Sabarmati Ashram]] in [[Ahmedabad, Gujarat]], India]]

The '''three wise monkeys''' are a Japanese pictorial [[Maxim (philosophy)|maxim]], embodying the [[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''', who sees no evil, covering his eyes
* '''Kikazaru''', who hears no evil, covering his ears, and
* '''Iwazaru''', who speaks no evil, covering his mouth.<ref>Oldest reference to the correct monkey names in English. Source:
* {{cite book |last= Japan Society of London |title= Transactions and proceedings of the Japan Society, London, Volume 1 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=X-oVAAAAYAAJ&q=Mizaru+Kikazaru+Iwazaru |year= 1893 |publisher= Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner and Co. |page= 98 }}</ref>

[[Lafcadio Hearn]] refers to them as the '''three mystic apes'''.<ref>[[Hearn, Lafcadio|Lafcadio Hearn]] (1894). ''Glimpses of unfamiliar Japan'', volume 2, p. 127.</ref>

There are various meanings ascribed to the monkeys and the proverb including associations with being of good mind, speech and action. The phrase is often used to refer to those who deal with impropriety by [[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|access-date=19 June 2017|author=Pornpimol Kanchanalak|location=Thailand|date=21 April 2011|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=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|archive-date=28 August 2015}}</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&q=Mazaru |year= 1920 |publisher= Page |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=[https://archive.org/details/triviaencycloped00wort/page/262 262]|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= https://archive.org/details/originsofenglish00jose/page/249 |year= 2001 |publisher= [[Johns Hopkins University]] Press |isbn= 978-0-8018-6784-2 |page= [https://archive.org/details/originsofenglish00jose/page/249 249] }}</ref> The monkeys are [[Japanese macaque]]s, a common species in Japan.

==Origin==
[[File:koshinscroll.jpg|thumb|Kōshin scroll with the three monkeys|right]]
[[File:Oak Ridge Wise Monkeys.jpg|thumb|A World War II poster directed at participants in the [[Manhattan Project]]]]

The source that popularized this pictorial [[Maxim (philosophy)|maxim]] is a 17th-century carving over a door of the famous [[Nikkō Tōshō-gū|Tōshō-gū]] shrine in [[Nikkō]], Japan. The carvings at Tōshō-gū Shrine were carved by [[Hidari Jingoro]], and believed to have incorporated [[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 [[Chinese language|Chinese]], a similar phrase exists in the late ''[[Analects of Confucius]]'' from 2nd to 4th century B.C. that reads: "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-hant|非禮勿視，非禮勿聽，非禮勿言，非禮勿動}}).<ref>Original text: [[s:zh:論語#顏淵第十二|論語]] {{in lang|zh}}, [[s:The Analects#Part 12|Analects]] {{in lang|en}}</ref> It may be this phrase that inspired the pictorial maxim after it was brought into Japan.

It is through the [[Kōshin]] rite of [[folk religion]] that the most significant examples are presented. The Kōshin belief or practice is a Japanese folk religion with Chinese [[Taoism]] origins and ancient [[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 [[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 [[Rendaku|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 [[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 [[Monkey (zodiac)|year of the Monkey]] (occurring every twelve years) and a special festival is celebrated every sixteenth year of the [[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|access-date=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 [[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.</ref>{{Failed verification|date=December 2011}} This set indicates that the philosophy comes from very ancient roots.

==Meaning of the proverb==
[[File:Three Wise Monkeys (2010).jpg|thumb|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.
* 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, [[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|access-date=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 corrupt enterprises.

==Variations==
Sometimes there is a fourth monkey depicted, '''Sezaru''', who symbolizes the principle of "do no evil", which fits with the full quote from [[Analects of Confucius]]. The monkey may be shown crossing its arms or covering its 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 fourth monkey is covering its genitals]]

The opposite version of the three wise monkeys can also be found. In this case, one monkey holds its hands to its eyes to focus vision, the second monkey cups its hands around its ears to improve hearing, and the third monkey holds its hands to its mouth like a bullhorn. Another modern interpretation is "Hear, see, and speak out loud for what you stand for".

[[File:Three wise monkeys crafted in Japan.jpg|thumb|Three wise monkeys variation : "Hear, see, speak only good"]]

==Rajneesh movement==
According to [[Osho 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 its 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}}</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==
{{more citations needed section|date=November 2012}}

[[File:Three wise monkeys figure.JPG|thumb|Brass casting]]

The three wise monkeys, and the associated proverb, are known throughout Asia and outside Asia. 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.

[[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 Satyagraha|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|access-date=21 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606062409/http://www.qatar-tribune.com/data/20120528/content.asp?section=nation1_5|archive-date=6 June 2012}}</ref>

The three monkeys are depicted in the trial scene in the 1968 film ''[[Planet of the Apes]]''. In an example of [[semiotics]], 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)|access-date=4 April 2018|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>

In a spoof of this saying, [[Bob Dole]] quipped about a meeting of former US Presidents: "[[Jimmy Carter|Carter]], [[Gerald Ford|Ford]] and [[Richard Nixon|Nixon]]: see no evil, hear no evil and evil."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/07/opinion/liberties-let-dole-be-dole.html|title=Liberties;Let Dole Be Dole|work=[[New York Times]]|date=7 March 1996|access-date=9 March 2019}}</ref>

The maxim inspired an award-winning 2008 Turkish film by director [[Nuri Bilge Ceylan]] called ''[[Three Monkeys]]'' (''Üç Maymun'').


==Unicode characters==
[[Unicode]] provides [[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#Unicode|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==
{{Portal|Japan|Society|Animals}}
* Buddhist [[Noble Eightfold Path]]: Right speech and right action
* Humata, Hukhta, Hvarshta, "good thoughts, good words, good deeds" in [[Zoroastrianism#Principal beliefs|Zoroastrianism]]
* [[Lashon hara]], prohibition of gossip in [[Judaism]]
* [[Manasa, vacha, karmana]], three Sanskrit words referring to mind, speech and actions
* [[Plausible deniability]], being able to convincingly claim ignorance of something incriminating
* [[Trikaya]], a formulation in Buddhism referring to body, speech and mind
* [[Willful blindness]], knowingly refraining from pursuing available information or knowingly sheltering oneself from information

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book |last=Titelman|first=Gregory Y. |title=Random House Dictionary of America's Popular Proverbs and Sayings |edition=second |year=2000 |publisher=[[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==
{{Commons category|See no evil hear no evil speak no evil}}
{{Wikiquote|Evil speaking}}
{{Wikiquote|List of proverbs}}
* [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]
{{Mahatma Gandhi}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Buddhist folklore]]
[[Category:Japanese folklore]]
[[Category:Metaphors referring to monkeys]]
[[Category:Trios]]
[[Category:Animals in Buddhism]]
[[Category:Mammals in religion]]
[[Category:Mahatma Gandhi]]
[[Category:Gandhism]]
[[Category:Good and evil]]
[[Category:Mythological monkeys]]

Three wise monkeys - Revision history

Vikiknl: cleanup

CleanupBot II: Removed empty portal template using script

->BrownHairedGirl: some ref cleanup tags should be AFTER , replaced: {{Failed verification|date=December 2011}} → {{Failed verification|date=December 2011}}