The three wise monkeys are a Japanese pictorial maxim, embodying the proverbial principle "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil". I based them on Japanese macaques enjoying a hot spring in the winter.

The three monkeys are:

• Mizaru (見ざる), "does not see", covering his eyes
• Kikazaru (聞かざる), "does not hear", covering his ears
• Iwazaru (言わざる), "does not speak", covering his mouth