thin king

The three wise monkeys

The three wise monkeys symbol is a pictorial maxim.
The depiction is in the images of three monkeys,
with a part of each monkey’s head covered.
Symbolically each respectively sees no evil, hears no evil, speaks no evil.
This maxim is well known throughout the world.

The origin of this maxim has not been properly identified.
However, its popularity has been attributed to a 17th-century carving by Hidari Jingoro.
It is one of eight panels at the famous Tosho-gu shrine in Nikko in Japan.
The carving of this maxim is believed to be based on the teaching of Confucius.
In the Analects of Confucius, 551–479 B.C., it says:
"Look not at what is contrary to propriety;
listen not to what is contrary to propriety;
speak not what is contrary to propriety".

What does this pictorial maxim convey then ?
“A picture is worth a thousand words”,
But do all the words go in the same direction ?
Just as there is uncertainty about the origin of the maxim,
there are differing interpretations of its meaning.          
However and whatever the interpretations:
see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil;
do not see, do not hear, do not speak;
not to see, say or hear the bad deeds of a person;
do not be concern about deeds that are evil;
steer clear of evil; just turn a blind eye;
invariably infer disassociation with the evil doings of society.
Whatever the intention could have been, such conclusions prevail.

Monkeys and monkey, and monkeys business may be monkey business.
Logically all the three monkeys summarily lead to mean do no evil.
So, naturally a fourth monkey came into being – do no evil.
However this monkey is usually shown with its hands at its groins.
This th​us makes one wonder whether the source of evil lies there;
and keeping the hands over there would do no evil.
Should it not that the fourth monkey folds arms, crosses legs, shuts eyes,
covers mouth and blocks ears, completing the monkey business.
being alive and living, and living