3 7/8 Inches Black Kittens 3 No Evils

This evocative trio reimagines the ancient proverb of the Three Wise Monkeys, a concept popularized in the 17th century by the woodcarving at the Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō, Japan. Representing the tenets of Mizaru, Kikazaru, and Iwazaru—who see no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil—this set adapts the profound Eastern philosophy of mindful restraint and moral integrity into the form of the enigmatic black cat. Historically, the monkeys served as a reminder to turn a blind eye to wrongdoing and to maintain a guarded disposition against impurity, a wisdom here captured in the watchful and guarded presence of these feline figures. Belonging to themes of Eastern philosophy, spiritual mindfulness, and folkloric symbolism, these pieces serve as a timeless artistic meditation on the power of silence, discretion, and the intentional curation of one’s perceptions.