These are the famous monkeys of Imahie Shrine (新日吉神宮),in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto. They are kept in cages of gold wire. Usually, instead of monkeys, temples would have dogs (Koma-inu) as their bodyguards. The reason why monkeys were used instead is because of the many interpretations of the word ‘monkey’ in Japanese - ‘saru’. ‘Saru’ can also mean ‘to leave’, as in the instance of “Ma ga saru”, which means, ‘Bad luck leaving’. It also can mean, ‘to win’; “nani yori mo saru” means, ‘To win against all odds’. The reasons why the monkeys are kept in cages are: 1. so that they aren’t stolen, and 2. so that the monkeys won’t take a stroll during the night.

Where Monkeys Stand Guard: A Kyoto Tale!
These are the famous monkeys of Imahie Shrine (新日吉神宮), in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto.
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