The Origins of See No Evil Hear No Evil Speak No Evil
Date Added: October 20, 2007 05:14:31 AM
One of the most commonly used phrases in the English language, so how can it be that most people have no idea of what it means or where it originated? This phrase frequently crosses our lips, but should we be speaking so blindly?
It is unfortunate and a little surprising that no one truly knows where the phrase originated in history. The most commonly accepted origin involves a statue of three monkeys at the Nikko Toshogo Shrine in Japan.
This statue located at the Sacred Stable is believed to be seventeenth century and depicts three monkeys. One monkey covers its eyes, one covers its mouth and the other covers its ears. It is believed that these monkeys represent a common religious phrase of the time. That is, “If we do not hear, see, or speak evil, we ourselves shall be spared all evil.”
Yet another theory says that saying comes from Japanese word play. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil in Japanese is mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru. That zaru verb ending sounds very similar to the word saru, which means monkey in Japanese.
One last bit of confusion comes from a Buddhist monk from China in the eighth century. Who is said to have introduced the three wise monkeys to Japan as a representation of the deity Vadjra’s commands to see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil.
With all the disagreement over the origin of the saying it is no wonder there is confusion over the meaning. Some contend it was an ancient way of saying to mind our own business. Others think it is a warning to stay away from places where immoral acts are happening.
It is easy to see that there may never be a consensus on the origin or the meaning of the phrase. One thing that all can agree on is that it is one of the most visually recognized phrase in existence. Anyone who hears it immediately thinks of a statue of three little monkeys.
