Brass sculpture "the three wise monkeys" (small)

The three wise monkeys (Japanese: 三 猿, san'en or sanzaru, or 三 匹 の 猿, sanbiki no saru, literally "three monkeys") are an illustrated motto.
These three monkeys together embody the proverbial principle of "not seeing evil, not feeling evil, not speaking of evil". Their names are "Mizaru", "monkey who does not see evil", "Kikazaru", "monkey who does not hear evil" and "Iwazaru", "monkey who does not speak of evil". Sometimes a fourth monkey is represented together with the others, this, "Shizaru" symbolizes the principle of "do not do evil" and can be depicted with crossed hands.