Thursday, June 13, 2013

Japanese Word of the Day #110



三猿(さんえん) (さんえんor さんざる: Three Wise Monkeys

The three wise monkeys (san'en or sanzaru) originally came to Japan with a Tendai-Buddhist legend, from China in the 8th century (Nara Period).
The three monkeys are Mizaru, covering his eyes, who sees no evil; Kikazaru, covering his ears, who hears no evil; and Iwazaru, covering his mouth, who speaks no evil. Regarded as a Japanese Golden Rule the tenets of the proverb are about not dwelling on evil thoughts.

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