三猿 （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.
