1. expresses experiences of all Japanese, metaphor for:
   1. Humans
      1. a group animal, said to have a soul
      2. due to likeness of humans and proximity
      3. 20,000 monkeys buried at a tomb in Osaka
   2. Japanese
      1. oppose foreigners
      2. Gibbons = Chinese
   3. Non-Human
      1. part of nature and deified
      2. seen as 'beings in nature', metamorphis to human form is common
   4. Mediator
      1. ambiguos, tranverses boundaries
      2. moves between nature and deities
   5. different meanings are dominant over different time periods
2. Ancient Period: 700-1200 - MEDIATOR
   1. introduction of agriculture removes monkeys as a food
      1. Intro. Buddhism = humane attitude to animals
   2. Surata Biko - grandson of sun goddess, visits earth each morning to call the sun
   3. Koshin - time between two cycles
   4. harness positive power from foreigners, keeping them outside Japan
      1. similar attitude towards deities
   5. ability to move from nature - culture, bipedal motion, dance to music
3. Late Medieval: 1250-1868 - SCAPEGOAT
   1. MAJOR PERIOD OF UPHEAVAL
   2. reign of two emperors simultaneously meant society needed to be protected from outsiders
   3. increased the need for special status people to train monkeys to protect horses
   4. Special Status People
      1. no longer carry positive power
         1. human minus 3 pieces of hair
            1. this is because they have undesirable human attributes
            2. hear no evil, see no evilpeak no evil = metaphor for humans who cannot hear or see oppression
            3. negative symbolism
      2. lose status as boundary crossers
         1. they now remove the negativities/impurities from society
         2. the negative attrinbutes given to monkeys = scapegoats
      3. monkeys now perform at temples
4. Contemporary Period: 1865-Present - CLOWN
   1. intro. of industrialism, economic success at the end of the feudal society
   2. monkey performances become part of entertainment -> CLOWN
      1. commits mischeif, metaphor for ordered disobedience
      2. reflects dynamics of modern Japan
   3. allows individuals to criticize society i.e. hierachy