Sculpture of the three wise monkeys representing the proverb "I do not see, I do not hear and I do not speak" in resin

These three monkeys together embody the proverbial principle of "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". Their names are "Mizaru", "monkey that does not see evil", "Kikazaru", "monkey that does not hear evil" and "Iwazaru", "monkey that does not speak evil". Sometimes a fourth monkey is represented together with the others, this, "Shizaru" symbolizes the principle of "do no evil" and can be depicted with crossed hands.

It is not uncommon to associate the expression "I do not see, I do not hear, I do not speak" with a situation in which one deliberately ignores something or avoids talking about it.