Three wise monkeys
Some say they are from India or China, others think they are from Egypt. The famous phrase "don't look at, don't listen to, don't speak out, and don't focus on what is contrary to benevolence" was written by Confucius in China in the 4th century BC, but the depiction of the three wise monkeys probably comes from Japan.
Several examples of depictions with monkeys date to the Kamakura period (1185-1333), including sculptures (Koshin-to) and wooden ornaments in Japanese temples. One theory states that the depiction of the three monkeys comes from the Muromachi period (1336-1573) when Koshin (a faith with influences from Japanese Shinto, Chinese Taoism, Buddhism, and other secret and magical beliefs) became popular.
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