It’s believed that the motif of the three monkeys was brought to China from India through the Silk Road-an ancient trade route connecting the East to the West-and eventually to Japan. By the 8th century, Buddhist monks brought the proverb to Japan. It originated in ancient China, and then found its animal representation in Japan, and eventually became popular in the West.ĭuring the Warring States period of China, around 475 to 221 BCE, the Analects of Confucius included the proverb of looking not at what’s contrary to being right listening not to what’s contrary to being right make no movement which is contrary to being right. The proverbial saying behind the three wise monkeys predates its physical representation. The Three Wise Monkeys in History Variation to the three wise monkeys featuring Buddhist monks As if by pretending not to see the wrongdoing, they will not be held accountable for it. However, the proverb is sometimes used sarcastically to those who turn a blind eye to something morally or legally wrong. The three wise monkeys represent the moral message of not looking at, listening to, or saying anything evil, as well as to be morally upright in the face of any evil. However, the suffix -zaru can also be the modified word for saru that means monkey in Japanese, so the proverb is illustrated by monkey images. The suffix -zu or –zaru is commonly used to negate a verb or express its opposite meaning. In Japanese language, the proverb is translated as “mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru,” meaning “see not, hear not, speak not”. Surprisingly, their Japanese names are also a play on words. They symbolize the proverbial saying, “See no evil. Meaning and Symbolism of the Three Wise MonkeysĪ cultural symbol originating in Japan, the three wise monkeys-one covering his eyes, one his ears, and one his mouth-are known by their names Mizaru, Kikazaru, and Iwazaru.
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