<P> The source that popularized this pictorial maxim is a 17th - century carving over a door of the famous Tōshō - gū shrine in Nikkō , Japan . The carvings at Toshogu Shrine were carved by Hidari Jingoro , and believed to have incorporated Confucius 's Code of Conduct , using the monkey as a way to depict man 's life cycle . There are a total of eight panels , and the iconic three wise monkeys picture comes from panel 2 . The philosophy , however , 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 . </P>
where does see no evil speak no evil come from
a 17th - century carving over a door of the famous Tōshō - gū shrine in Nikkō , Japan