See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil

"HEAR NO EVIL, SPEAK NO EVIL, SEE NO EVIL
–"

…Said of people who don't want to be involved. The origin of the
proverb is unknown. The proverb is often represented by three monkeys
covering their eyes, ears, and mouth respectively with their hands. The seventeenth century legend related to 'The Three Wise Monkeys ' is said
to have read, 'Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.' The saying
was carved over the door of Sacred Stable, Nikko, Japan…"

A fascinating study of
the superstitions, customs, and strange habits that influence our daily
lives" by R. Brash (Pocket Book, New York, 1969) : "It is a fallacy
that the Three Wise Monkeys, who hear no evil, see no evil and speak no
evil, are indigenously Japanese. It is true that they have had their
domicile there for many centuries. But originally they came from China
and were introduced into Japan by a Buddhist monk of the Tendai sect,
probably in the 8th century A.D. The monkeys were at first always
associated with the blue-faced deity Vadjra, a fearsome god with three
eyes and numerous hands. Their characteristic gestures of covering
their ears, eyes and mouths with their paws were a dramatic pictorial
way of conveying the command of the god. This shows an early realization of the psychological fact that a striking picture is more
impressive and lasting more than a spoken message. Nevertheless, the
story has been told in various traditions in prose and poetry. It dates
back to at least the 7th century and is part of the teaching of the
Vadjra cult that if we do not hear, see or talk evil, we ourselves shall be spared all evil. In the folk etymology and by a play on words
the very names of the three monkeys - Mizaru, Kikazaru and Iwazaru -
express their three gestures and thus anyone by merely referring to
them immediately proclaims their message."

It is truly surprising to realize how often words and phrases are used
with absolutely no idea on what they actually mean or where they
originated from. These words and phrases grace our lips constantly as
we blindly speak them, unsure of exactly why we are saying these
things. “See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil” is one such phrase.
Although commonly spoken, from where it’s derived is rarely known.

Although it’s true origins remain debated, experts on “See no
evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil” still has some ideas pertaining to
where it came from. The main guess is that it is derived from a
religious phrase, ““If we do not hear, see, or speak evil, we ourselves
shall be spared all evil.” This religious phrase was put into practice
in the form of three monkeys carved, one with its hands over its eyes,
one with its hands over its ears, and another with its hands over its
mouth, for the Nikko Toshogo Shrine in Japan.

This origin is backed up by the Japanese word for monkey being “saru.”
The popular phrase in Japanese translates to: “mizaru, kikazaru,
iwazaru.” As can be seen, “saru” is very similar to “zaru.” The only
question regarding this is that the three wise monkeys aren’t Japanese
in origin; they actually came from China in the eighth century.
Although not known for sure, it is believed that these original monkeys
were also carved to represent this age old proverb.