speak no evil see no evil hear no evil

The Three Monkeys

A 400 year old Japanese image for a 2,500 year old Chinese code of conduct

Hear no evil speak no evil see no evil

Also Known As: No Evil Monkeys, Three Wise Monkeys, Mystic Monkeys, Morality Monkeys

This web site is for those who collect the three "No Evil" monkeys. Whether you are a casual or a serious collector, we invite you to join our USA group.

Send email requests, questions and/or comments to Bruce Kittess, webmaster@thethreemonkeys.com

A meeting of two webmasters, the three monkey kind, took place in Dunkirk, New York on June 21, 2008. Yours truly and Mr. Emil Schuttenhelm (on right) from Zurich, Switzerland. Working together to bring you the best in monkey business.

Mr.Schuttenhelm, a collector of over 30 years and now retired, is online in a big way.You can see hundreds of pictures and learn in great detail about collectors and about collecting. You can request a value estimate at no charge and shop for interesting sets. The website is presented in English, Dutch, German and French. To access the homepage address directly: www.three-monkeys.info

Proverb 1 The subject of this webpage, from the Far East, a noble moral code to follow, avoid evil in all forms. "Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil."

Proverb 2 Professor Archer Taylor (1890-1973), a folklorist, writes about a Roman proverb. He traced it's early origins to a sermon in Paris about 1300 AD and to Gesta Romanorum, a Latin collection of folklore and legends in the late 14th century. "Audi, vide, tace, si vis vivere in pace." "Hear, see, be silent, if you want to live in peace."

Proverb 3 A Proverb in the making for the 21st century. "Hear all, see all and speak out for freedom and liberty, if you want to live in peace."

We initially met on eBay, aggressively bidding against each other, trying to acquire sets of "see no, hear no and speak no evil" monkeys. A collector, Susan Scribner, brought us together in St Louis, MO in October 2001, to meet in person and to share our common interest. The group now holds conferences where we socialize, hear interesting speakers, trade sets and conduct our own silent auctions.

No charter, no dues, no officers, no rules and regulations, just for regular folks like me and thee.

We returned to St Louis for our 2006 meeting. The highlight of the event was the dedication of Susan's new "Monkey Room." A TV series video aired in St Louis on November 10. Clink this link first, when open, click "Watch Wendy's story here": www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=107255

The plaque below explains Susan's motivation for starting her collection and later for bringing us collectors together.

Mr. Arun Gandhi is the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of India, is recognized worldwide as the one who brought freedom through non-violence. Mahatma is know to have had few material possessions; he had a tin cup and spoon, a pair of sandals, his glasses and.....a set of no evil monkeys! Arun explained to us the meaning of these monkeys for his grandfather and the connection of the adage to Indian culture.

The work of his grandfather had a great influence on Arun Gandhi. In 1999, he and his wife, Sunanda, founded the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence dedicated to nonviolence worldwide.

The monkey was included as the 9th animal of 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac about 2600 BCE.

Monkeys have been held sacred and/or in high esteem for centuries: the Hanuman Langur in India, the Rhesus Macaque in China and the Japanese Macaque (Snow Monkey) in Japan. Monkey folklore existed before Taoism, Buddhism or Confuciusism.

Three of the world's greatest teachers lived and taught in the Far East within the same century.

Buddha (563-483 BCE) born in India, preached for forty five years. Buddhism arrived in China in the 1st or 2nd century and in Japan 522-645 AD. In 788 A.D., a Chinese monk, Saicho, founded the Tendai Buddhist sect in Japan.

Confucius (551-479 BCE) in about 500 BC wrote the Chinese Book of Rites or Li Chi. "Li" means regulation of conduct, custom and law, and "chi" means book. Confucius advises "look not at what is contrary to Li, listen not to what contrary to Li, speak not what is contrary to Li."(XII.1) Confucius edited the Book of Poems (dating from 1,000 B.C. to 600 B.C.) from 3,000 poems to 300 poems. He said the 300 verses can be summed up in a single phrase, "Don't think in an evil way." (II.2)

Lao Tse (604-531 BCE) a Chinese philosopher, founded Taoism. A Taoist folk tradition, known as the Koshin belief or practice, was introduced to Japan from China during the leadership of three succeeding monks of the Tendai Buddhists: Saicho, the founder(762-822), Ennin (792-864) and Enchin (814-891). Koshin worship spread in Japan during the 10th and 11th centuries and flourished until 1868.

Late in the Muromachi period 1333-1568 it became customary for the three monkeys to appear on stone pillars in Japan during the observance of Koshin. Some believe the monk Saicho was the first to have drawn the image of the three monkeys. However Saicho died in 822 and for a period of approximately 700 years not one drawing, scroll, tablet nor koshin stone depicting the three monkeys has been recorded.

The three monkey image could be representing Santai, the Three Truths of Buddhism AND/OR was inspired by Confucius Li Chi AND/OR came from Hanuman, the Indian deity of Monkey AND/OR a Koshin belief the monkeys were sacred messengers of Buddha and mediators to reward or punish humans depending on their conduct. We may never know for sure. Let's agree the three monkeys may represent the combined influence of folk beliefs from India, China and Japan.

We are the most familiar with the Toshogu Shrine, built in the early 17th century, in Nikko, Japan. On the walls of the Sacred Stable, are eight panels carved by Hidari Jingoro (1594-1634) Jingoro incorporated Confucius's Code of Conduct into a story of monkeys depicting man's life cycle. The most famous and most photographed, our three no evil monkeys, is panel number two. The monkeys appeared on koshin stones perhaps a hundred years prior to Jingoro's carvings, but the originator is unknown. Hence, Jingoro is the first known artist to display the images of the three monkeys and with a date certain. Perhaps his wife wrote the script?

Panel 1. With love and care of the parent, baby monkey grows. The parent is looking ahead to the future of her child.

Panel 3. When alone, look around carefully and search for the way one wishes to follow.

Panel 4. The higher one seeks the more he wants. Know when to stop wanting beyond his needs.

Panel 6. A mate helps one enjoy life but he must remember that life is not always honey.

Panel 7. Turbulent life can be sailed through peacefully when man and wife cooperate with each other.

Panel 8. Expecting mother monkey. Arrival of new generation shows god's love, paternal love and child's compassion.

In a Japanese temple, an image of a meditating Buddha is seated on a lotus blossom. In front of him are three little monkeys, one with its hands over its eyes, another over its ears, and the third covering its mouth. What do these three monkeys signify? By its gesture the first one says: " I do not see evil and folly." The second one says: "I do not hear them." and the third: "I do not speak them."

In the same way, the wise man is prudent in what he looks at, in what he listens to, and in what he says. He considers the consequences, thinks of the morrow, and if he does not know his way, he asks.

An easy task collecting you say? A noted Dutch collector, since 1975, estimates that there are over 20,000 sets on the market and still growing. Does it not convey their popularity? Is it because their message, in it's simplicity, is instantly understood, transcending many cultures and languages through the centuries?

Side by side, back to back, attached, unattached, hanging, totems, threesomes, foursomes, inros, netsukes, okimonos, ojimes, standing, sitting, bending, knees up, legs crossed, some with colored coats or just plain coats, some on bases, some with faces red, some standing on just one leg and even one that does it all.

China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, USA,, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, Ireland, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Holland, Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, Australia.

Gold, silver, pewter, brass, bronze, iron, copper, spelter, hippo ivory, mammoth ivory, elephant ivory, bone, jade, lapis, amber, soapstone, clay, ceramic, porcelain, glass, ironwood, cedar, boxwood, teak, olivewood, coconut, bamboo, plastic, plaster, resins, celluloid, tagua nut, coal and rubber.

A wonderful site to visit, Three Brass Wise Monkeys, is presented by Mr. Vin Callcut

Clocks, lamps, ashtrays, candlestick holders, little boxes, bags, coat hangers, mugs, cups, jewelry, games, forks and spoons and knives, napkin holders, letter openers, bottle openers, corkscrews, dinner bells, towels, rugs, sweaters and shirts and socks, bookends, incense burners, desk sets, fan pulls, toothpick holders, paperweights, wall hangings, dishes, bowls, vases and on and on. Not to forget in poems and pictures, in advertising, on book covers, on video covers!

Precious, cute, priceless, adorable, lovely, superb, very nice, very old, early, brand new, rare, vintage, Meiji, mint in box, exquisite, fabulous, classic, unique, unusual, different, whimsical, weird, awesome or just plain "cool".

And when you think you've got enough, it's time to grow to other stuff. No evil pigs and billy goats, frogs and bears and dogs and cats, no telling when, no evil bats?