The 3 mystic apes, or the three wise monkeys. A carving of the three wise monkeys has been proudly placed above the door of the shrine ever since the 17th century made by the sculptor Hidari Jingoro. It is believed that the maxim came to Japan from China in the 8th century, as a part of a Tendai-Buddhist philosophy.

The four monkeys are Mizaru, covering his eyes, who sees no evil; Kikazaru, covering his ears, who hears no evil; and Iwazaru, covering his mouth, who speaks no evil. Sometimes there is a fourth monkey depicted with the three others; the last one, Shizaru, symbolizes the principle of “do no evil”