Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
Ko Shin Gong Yang Charm (Three Wise Monkeys)
庚申供養花錢 (背三猿圖)
Item number: A113
Year: ND
Material: Bronze
Size: 26.39 x 26.41 mm
Weight: 6.7 g
Provenance:
1. Noonans 2022
2. D. L. F. Sealy Collection
This coin appears to be a Japanese temple token used for offerings, although its exact date is uncertain. It adopts the typical square-holed coin shape of China. On the obverse side, there are four Chinese characters “Ko Shin Gong Yang” (support Koshin), which initially might suggest the casting year of the coin. However, when combined with the imagery of the “Three Wise Monkeys” on the reverse side, “Koshin” reflects a deeper folk belief.
According to the Taoist “Sanshi theory,” there are three malicious creatures, known as “Sanshi,” who report people’s wrongdoings to the celestial heavens, thus shortening their lifespans. To ward off the harm caused by these creatures, ancient people would hold “Keep Koshin” rituals on Koshin days, staying awake all night to prevent the creatures from reporting to heaven. While this religious ritual gradually declined in China in modern times, the “Sanshi theory” entered Japan from the Tang Dynasty and flourished there, blending with Buddhist and native Shinto beliefs to become an integral part of Japanese spirituality.
The reverse side of the coin features the iconic “Three Wise Monkeys,” which reflects a strong Japanese cultural motif. The monkey on the left covers its ears, the one on top covers its eyes, and the one on the right covers its mouth. This imagery originates from a dialogue between Confucius and his disciple Yan Hui, stating “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, do no evil.”
Additionally, the Koshin faith in Japan is closely associated with the native Shinto belief in “Sarutahiko no kami,” equating monkeys with the deity Sarutahiko. This connection has made monkeys a common decorative motif in Japanese temples.
The most famous depiction of the “Three Wise Monkeys” in Japan is located at the Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō, Tochigi Prefecture. Construction of this shrine began in AD 1617. Carved into the eaves of the stable building at the shrine are the three monkeys, representing the proverb from the Analects of Confucius. This shrine has become an important cultural and tourist attraction in Japan.