Wednesday, June 17, 2009

SEE NO EVIL, HEAR NO EVIL, SPEAK NO EVIL

The picture above shows the statues of the three wise monkeys. The story of the wise monkeys are thought to have originated in India and then migrated to China before settling in Japan where their popularity in the 17th centuary popularised them.

The three wise monkeys (Japanese: , san'en or sanzaru, or , sanbiki no saru, literally "three monkeys") are a pictorial maxim. Together they embody the proverbial principle to "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". 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.
Sometimes there is a fourth monkey depicted with the three others; the last one, Shizaru, symbolizes the principle of "do no evil". He may be shown covering his abdomen or crotch, or crossing his arms.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_wise_monkeys

No comments: