Sydney March 2014 (2 images)
The three wise monkeys (Japanese: 三猿, san’en or sanzaru, or 三匹の猿, sanbiki no sari), sometimes called the three mystic apes, are a pictorial maxim. They embody the proverbial principle to “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”. There are various meanings ascribed to the monkeys and the proverb including associations with being of good mind, speech and action. The phrase is also used to refer to those who deal with impropriety by turning a blind eye.
The source that popularized this pictorial maxim is a 17th-century carving over a door of the Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō, Japan. The carvings at the Shrine were carved by Hidari Jingoro, and believed to have incorporated Confucius’ Code of Conduct, using the monkey as a way to depict man’s life cycle. There are a total of 8 panels, and the iconic three wise monkeys picture comes from panel 2. However, the philosophy probably originally came to Japan with a Tendai-Buddhist legend, from China in the 8th century (Nara Period). It has been suggested that the figures represent the three dogmas of the so-called middle school of the sect. …source: wikipedia.
The three monkeys are:
Iwazaru. He’s on the left and speaks no evil. However, he might use his hands to express himself though;
Mizaru. She’s in the middle with eyes closed so as to see no evil;
Kikazaru. He’s on the right and hears no evil. It helps to sometimes stand apart from the others to make that easier.
Those 3 monkeys above the doorway of the pub caught my eye. That building used to be a bank. Now there’s a twist.
Oh, and coincidentally there also happen to be three pedestrians standing across the road. Don’t you think it was very nice of them to pose for me? 🙂 As I’ve said before, I like to be prepared for that candid moment by always having my camera ready and I like to photograph people at intersections.
Over at the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge, this week’s topic is Twist, by which they want unexpected and surprising, something filthy rich with meaning. That’s a tough one. I don’t think I have anything like that so I’ll just go with this one. 😉
PS: This will be my only post this week. My next post will be next week.
Very ironic indeed that it used to be a bank. One question with people “posing” for you: do you ask them first? I must have a bad aura about me because I’ve had problems with photographing things such as rooftops of tall building (where I’m blatantly pointing my camera upwards) and people duck down when they pass by because they think I’ll photograph them. Once a guy got really angry with me and told me to put my camera away because I was invading his privacy – I was focusing up at the sky, to the setting sun behind a tall mountain top, so he was no where within my angle of vision…
I meant “posing” in a fun way. This was completely candid and I’ve been fortunate enough to not be in the position you describe. Some people are irrational and best avoided.
A good way to remember to avoid evil – should put them above my door 🙂
I’m sure you have a heart of gold and don’t need reminding. Thank you and have a wonderful day. 🙂
It’s not truth, but thank you 🙂 One thing is true – you bring some good feelings every time you post, type, comment or everything you are doing, thank you for that and have a wonderful day too:)
Thank you. I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend.
Yes, thank you 🙂
An absolute RIPPER, LD ! – you must have been tickled pink !
Pure fluke to get that combination huh? Sometimes you get lucky. 🙂
Seems to happen to you an awful lot, me old china … 🙂
Very nice 🙂
The lady in the middle has her eyes closed , coincidence ?
Thanks. I’m guessing she blinked, or should I just say my timing was impeccable. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Why above the entrance to a bank? Your three street “monkeys” are priceless. There are so many possibilities for those monkeys: Don’t speak, don’t look, don’t listen. Can’t say, can’t see, can’t hear. Great post and great image. See you next week Lignum. 🙂
I’m guessing/hoping those monkeys didn’t appear until after the bank had left and the pub commenced, but I may very well be wrong. 🙂
The imagination could run rife with this one. Thanks and have a great week ahead.
This is a great interpretation of the theme. What a fitting shot. Monkeys on top of the awning, and “monkeys” below on the street. If that pub used to be a bank, then it must have been a very gothic-like bank.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. Back then all banks seemed a bit ornate and gothic compared to the modern designs these days.
Looks like you were busted, young man. Except for the lady, everyone seemed to know what you were up to.
But soooo worth it to get the shot, don’t you think? Actually Mr hear no evil is not looking at me but no doubt they all saw me jostling for position on the other side of the intersection. 🙂
I love it!!!! I am surprised you know so many things about the three monkeys..I did not even know they had names!!!!
I must confess at the beginning what caught my eye was the man in the middle of the picture..I love his confidence, his air of satisfied and happy man…Then, I saw the three monkeys!!!
Always a pleasure to read your posts!!! Enjoy the week!
Thank you, yes I tried to hide the monkey sculpture in the corner for a bit of dramatic effect. 🙂 🙂 🙂
I could pretend to be a world-wise man, but in truth, my friend the google monster tells me everything I need to know. 🙂
I read you found it in Google…But, still….
I remember a T shirt I saw last summer : “I do not need Google…My wife knows everything!!! ” ….:) 🙂
Have a great week!
Funny 🙂 Thanks. Have a great week ahead.
Good shot (as always) and interesting story. Enjoy your time off – see you next week!
Thank you kindly. Have a great week ahead too.
I like the expression of the man on the far right 🙂
Anyway, I visited that very shrine in Japan last month. Hordes of tourists clamoring around a door to take photos of the 3 monkeys.
Thanks, I can imagine there would be hordes there and not the usual serenity you associate with a shrine.
Great shot, Lignum, and loved your interpretation.
See you when you return!
Thank you very much Lisa. Have a great week too.
I always appear to leave this blog with a smile. I was reading your description looking at the pedestrians not noticing the wise monkeys on top of the pub sign. A superb candid 😀
Thank you. 🙂 I tucked the sculpture away in the corner deliberately, for that effect. 🙂
Wonderful!
Thank you.
Cool photo and awesome composition! Love the story behind it. Thanks for sharing this picture and the story. Have a great week and looking forward to see your post next week!
Thank you very much Indah. Have a wonderful week ahead too. 🙂
Awesome post! I love the way you just stumble on things and I especially love the way you look at things. Have a great week. 🙂
Thank you, You too. 🙂
When I saw the first photo the monkeys caught my eye right away. 🙂 They look so cool up there. Really interesting to hear the story about them. You’ve captured such a great scene with those three pedestrians standing there and bringing the twist into your story. Wonderful post Draco! 🙂
Thank you very much Elina. I was really lucky those people were there. Timing is everything in photography. 🙂
I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend.
Definitely a twist that the pub was once a bank! Haha! Two businesses (a hair salon and a craft store) I frequented for many years were both in spaces that were once banks, with vaults in use for products and merchandise other than money! I don’t know if the monkey’s in your photo are more applicable for the bank executives or the pub patrons 🙂
Bank executives, definitely. 🙂 Thank you.
Monkeys in the architecture?! You live in a seriously cool place. 😉
Cool but I wonder if they have remote cameras hidden in them 🙂 🙂 🙂
Priceless!!
🙂 🙂 🙂
Love the monkeys, and the three humans! Such clarity. I always love that in your photos! They’re so crisp!
Thank you very much. I hope you’re having a great weekend.
Great shots… all of them. I’m speechless. I never tried black and white but your photos inspire me to try. I was laughing when a friend of mine told me he bought the Leica M. Now I understand it better. I can’t wait for your next post.
Thank you very much. Rangefinder style photographer does lend itself well to street photography.
sei geniale!!!!!!! le tre scimmie sono molto conosciute anche in italia, ma è il tuo modo di rappresentarle che stupisce!
🙂
Grazie. 🙂
Very cool, I never knew the history… and also a great shot. Cheers!
Many thanks. Hope you’re having a great weekend.
Thanks for the info about those monkeys, I had seen them before but didn’t really know anything about them. It seems they didn’t see you taking that picture either! 😀 Were the monkey’s there when the building was still a bank? Banks are fast disappearing these days. It’s odd how they always end up being turned into a bar. I guess they both have something in common – they make huge sums of money! 😉
I’m sure hoping the monkeys were installed for the pub, and not then when it was still a bank. If they were there when it was a bank, they would have lost customers very quickly. 🙂
Hey…if the monkeys were there when it was a bank, it would have been a signal that you could launder your money there or stash your ill-gotten gains with the authorities none the wiser. “The Royal Bank of Wink-Wink Nod-Nod Enough Said.”
Say no more, say no more.
🙂
very amusing parallel 🙂 great post, Draco!!
Thank you Alex. 🙂
this is great – love the photo and your words!
Thank you very much.
I so appreciate that you always give background to your photos … I learn much.
Excellent picture of not only the monkeys, but the pedestrians, too.
Thank you. I’m learning too. 🙂
What a clever shot, Lignum Draco! Love the photo!
Thank you.
I was wondering where the there monkeys were. I finally saw them. I love the way they look. Thanks for sharing!
Many thanks. Hope you’re having a great day.
So much happening up there what with the monkeys and the faces in the trees, a gorgeous urban fairy tale shot Lignum!
Thanks Patti. It’s a jungle out there. 🙂
The originals are the third image in this post: *link deleted*
Thanks for the comment, but I do not accept unsolicited outside links on my blog. I hope you understand.
So much wonderful detail in the photo – I had fun simply studying them all. And thanks for the education about the monkeys! It’s always fun to learn something new.
Thank you. There’s a lot to see here, but I tried to hide the 3 monkeys statue in the corner. 🙂
Why did I miss this one! I am very grateful for the explanation of the origin of this maxim. What behaviour would you assign to each one of your three pedestrians? The female one is – see no evil I think :D. I would need the forth monkey : smell no evil 😀
Thanks Paula. I would like to think that they are in the same order as the monkeys: from L to R, speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil. 🙂
Smell no evil? The mere thought of an evil smell makes me almost faint. 🙂
Portuguese writer Jose Saramago said that smell is what made hell impossible 🙂 You made a typo above: “hear the evil” 😀
That would be hell. 🙂
Thanks. Will correct. Just woke up but haven’t had breakfast yet – the danger period for me. 🙂
😀 enjoy your croissant Draco 🙂
Thanks. I did. 🙂