The three wise monkeys (三猿, San'en; [saɰ̃.eɴ], lit. 'three monkeys') are a Japanese pictorial maxim, embodying the proverbial principle "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." The three monkeys are Mizaru (見猿), covering his eyes and "not seeing" (見ざる, mizaru), Kikazaru (聞か猿), covering his ears and "not hearing" (聞かざる, kikazaru), Iwazaru (言わ猿), covering his mouth and "not speaking" (言わざる, iwazaru). Lafcadio Hearn refers to them as the three mystic apes.
The three wise monkeys (三猿, San'en; [saɰ̃.eɴ], lit. 'three monkeys') are a Japanese pictorial maxim, embodying the proverbial principle "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." The three monkeys are Mizaru (見猿), covering his eyes and "not seeing" (見ざる, mizaru), Kikazaru (聞か猿), covering his ears and "not hearing" (聞かざる, kikazaru), Iwazaru (言わ猿), covering his mouth and "not speaking" (言わざる, iwazaru). Lafcadio Hearn refers to them as the three mystic apes.
Source: Wikipedia "Three wise monkeys" · CC BY-SA 4.0
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