What the Heck is the 4th Monkey for?

[Vraille Darkfang]

Today at the mall, I was wandering through this new Asian Gifts Store.

Lots, of varied stuff, but 1 thing caught my eye: They many different sets of the 3 monkeys (the ones with the monkeys covering various body parts).

"See no Evil", "Hear no Evil", "Speak no Evil"...

Then many of the sets had a 4th monkey, with his hands covering his... ummm, Gonads.

So what sort of Evil is this Monkey warning me about?

Unfortunate Succubus Encounters? Leona Helmsly? This Monkey Really has to potty? I just watched that Japanese game show where guys get a mallet to the groin when they miss a question?

What? I need to know. If the Monkey has his hands over his Bananna what evil is he warning me not to perpetrate?

 

[Yalius]

Do no Evil?

 

[kenobi65]

Boink No Evil.

 

[Heckler]

No glove, no love?

 

[trancejeremy]

Wee no evil?

 

[talien]

My understanding is:

* See no evil.
* Hear no evil.
* Speak no evil.
* Have no fun.

 

[Huw]

There are only three monkeys. The fourth monkey is someone's idea of a joke. A funny one, fortunately.

 

[Merkuri]

Where do these monkeys come from, anyway?

Edit: I just looked it up on Wikipedia, and at least according to this article the last monkey symbolizes "do no evil" and was part of the original "theme":

Sometimes there is a fourth monkey depicted with the three others; the last one, Shizaru, symbolizes the principle of "do no evil". He may be covering his abdomen or crotch, or just crossing his arms.

In Chinese, a similar phrase exists in the Analects of Confucius: "Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety"

But this is Wikipedia, so who knows.

 

[megamania]

See No Evil, Hear no Evil, Speak No Evil and Reproduce No Evil

 

[Angel Tarragon]

See No Evil, Hear no Evil, Speak No Evil and Reproduce No Evil

Thats as good a guess as any.