The Three Wise Monkeys are animal figurines quite famous throughout Asia. One monkey covers his ears, another one his mouth and the third one his eyes. Their origin seems to be lost in the fog of time, but they carry a powerful ethical message that reminds me of some of Confucius’ teachings: “see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil”.
In the Toshogu Shrine in Nikko, the three wise monkeys are actually part of a series of eight wood carvings that can be seen on the walls of the Sacred Stable. The carvings portray the cycle of life in several key scenes.
Scene 1: The monkey is only a baby and needs his mother’s love and protection.
Scene 2: “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” is by far, the most famous of the eight carvings. It represents the most fundamental level of education that the young monkey should first acquire and then build his life on.
Scene 3: And then, it comes a time in a monkey’s life when he has to leave his parents behind and find his own way in life. He should choose carefully!
Scene 4: The young, energetic, determined and talented monkey will strive to get as far up the tree as possible. But he should always know when to stop.
Scene 5: Sometimes he will meet people in need. He should always show kindness and compassion.
Scene 6: But life can be rough and he must often overcome problems and moments of sadness. True friends will be there by his side.
Scene 7: Finding his better half brings sweetness to his existence. Suddenly, life’s burdens seem to be much lighter.
Scene 8: And one day, the monkey will have his own little monkey, thus closing the circle of life and opening a new one for the next generation.
