Three wise monkeys

The three wise monkeys are a Japanese pictorial maxim, embodying the proverbial principle "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". The three monkeys are

• Mizaru (見ざる), who sees no evil, covering his eyes
• Kikazaru (聞かざる), who hears no evil, covering his ears
• Iwazaru (言わざる), who speaks no evil, covering his mouth.

Lafcadio Hearn refers to them as the three mystic apes.

There are various meanings ascribed to the monkeys and the proverb including associations with being of good mind, speech and action. The phrase is often used to refer to those who deal with impropriety by turning a blind eye.

Outside Japan the monkeys' names are sometimes given as Mizaru, Mikazaru and Mazaru, as the last two names were corrupted from the Japanese originals. The monkeys are Japanese macaques, a common species in Japan.