Detail

`2004 marks the Year of the Monkey. As animals closest to human beings, monkeys have long been considered special in Asian folklore. At the same time, however, monkeys were also mocked for their uncanny likeness to humans and their propensity to mimic. Being primates like humans, monkeys are gregarious and live in groups. Their maternal instincts are as strong as those of humans, and if their cubs should die, they have been observed cuddling the body in apparent grief. The Chinese character `　` which stands for the monkey, has the same pronunciation as the letter `侯` which means the feudal lord. As a result, in ancient paintings, monkeys symbolized appointment to a government post as well as success in life. They were also symbols of longevity, drawn along with the Ten Symbols of Longevity or the mythical peach that is said to grow in heaven. They were also depicted as assistants to Buddhist monks with relation to Seoyugi (Travels to the West), a classical mythical novel. Monkeys also represented wealth and fame as well as prosperity of descendants as they were portrayed eating plump grapes that looked very appetizing. This New Year`s Greetings stamp features the monkey and the particles of snow, printed in photostorage ink of phosphorescence pigment, which illuminates in darkness. A new year of the monkey is ushered in with the New Year`s Greetings stamp featuring the `cute antics of the monkey`.`