Three Monkeys (Important Cultural Property)
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三猿(重要文化財)
In Japanese lore, monkeys are the protectors of horses, and carvings of monkeys decorate the transoms of the sacred horse stable at Tōshōgū.
The famous three-monkey carving, see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, appears in the second of eight transom panels on the sacred horse stable at Toshogu. In Japanese tradition, monkeys protect horses, and the full set of panels traces the circle of life. Nearby, the Sacred Font built in 1618 features carvings of dragons above water motifs under a curved gable, with vivid pigments and gold leaf still visible. The Rinzo sutra library beside it holds a complete set of Buddhist sutras stored in a revolving octagonal cabinet: one full revolution is said to carry the same merit as reading every word inside.
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