Three wise monkeys in Nikko and different countries

At a company trip to Nikko Toshogu Shrine last month, I took a movie of famous three wise monkeys (which are “see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil”).

It’s the year of the Monkey next year in Japan, so the picture of these monkeys must be used so much for New Year cards.

 

They monkeys are on the wall of Shinkyusha (Sacred Stable) which is a stable for shrine’s sacred horses.

In the movie, it is introduced as “Umaya” (a stable).

It is said that monkeys are protection for horses so monkeys are carved on this building.

 

When I saw this first time, it was during a school trip. 

I thought it was pretty small despite its popularity. 

I wondered why, out of a great many sculptures in Toshogu shrine, this became especially famous.

 

Actually there are the three wise monkeys all over the world...

It’s interesting that meanings of the monkeys become different depends on different places.

As compared with other monkey statues from other places,

these monkeys at Nikko are more charming which makes sense why they are so famous.

T.S

photographed by Mitva Shah

Three wise monkeys at the monastery of Gandhi in India, “speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil”.

 

A signboard for employees at the U.S. government, “what you see here, what you do here, what you hear here, when you leave here, let it stay here”.