2007-06-24 22:31:47 · 6 answers · asked by deeromper 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
I've always heard them called Mizaru (see no evil), Kikazaru (hear no evil) and Iwazaru (speak no evil). The original carving is at Toshogu shrine in Nikko, Japan, a few hours drive from Tokyo. You can see a picture of it at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_wise_monkeys
The names are puns. The ending "zaru" is one method of negating a verb in Japanese. For example, "Mi" is the stem for the verb "to see", and adding "zaru" makes it "do not see" (the "evil" part is implied). "zaru" is very similar (especially in the Japanese phonological system) to "saru" which means Monkey.
The wikipedia page refers to them as "Mizaru" (see no evil), "Mikazaru" (hear no evil) and "Mazaru" (speak no evil) and a web search shows that these names are used in many other places as well. I think these are the original old Japanese names as this is from a 17th century carving after all.
2007-06-25 09:31:56 · answer #1 · answered by Gadiodian Shift 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Japanese names of the monkeys are: Mizaru (see no evil), Kikazaru (hear no evil), and Iwazaru (speak no evil).
2007-06-24 22:34:15 · answer #2 · answered by Sal*UK 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
mizaru...see no evil, kikazaru......hear no evil, Iwazaru...speak no evil..
2007-06-25 01:18:43 · answer #3 · answered by sarahroberts78 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you mean the Japanese carving. “Mizaru (see), Kikazaru (hear), Iwazaru.(speak)"
2007-06-24 22:35:32 · answer #4 · answered by Jason 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Those are their names in whatever language.
2007-06-24 22:37:45 · answer #5 · answered by sims II 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
tom,dick,harry.
2007-06-25 01:01:55 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋