Year of the Monkey China MINT Stamp Set 1992-1

1992 Year of the Monkey

Technical details:

Scott No: 2378-79
Serial number: 1992-1
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: January 25, 1992
Designers: Cao Hongnian; Xu Yanbo
Engravers: Hu Zhenyuan
Size: 26*31mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 32
Printing process: gravure-engraving combined

SN: (2-1)
Title: Monkey-peaches Promising Auspicious Year (Auspicious Peach)
Value: 20 fen

SN: (2-2)
Title: Magpies Flying onto the Plun Branches (Magpie in the Plum Tree)
Value: 50 fen

Background info

The Chinese traditional society used the Chinese traditional calendar because it fitted well to the agricultural production strongly characterized by reasons. This kind of traditional calendar which relates to the fullness or incompleteness of the moon is also called "the lunar calendar". The Chinese traditional calendar uses the ten Heavenly Stems as serial numbers and also in combination with the twelve Earthly Branches to designate years, months, days, and hours. Sixty kinds of combinations can be achieved by making pairs with Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, and so on from the ten Heavenly Stems and Zi, Chou, Yin, Mou, and so on from the twelve Earthly Branches in cycles. The twelve Earthly Branches are used as well to combine with twelve kinds of animals. Thus each year has one of the names of the twelve symbolic animals with a 12-year cycle, which is called "Sheng Xiao" of this year. Consequently Renshen Year is the Year of Monkey. The person who was born this year is called the one who was born in the year of monkey.

These two stamps is the first set of the lunar year stamps in the second circle, designed by the means of Chinese folk paper-cut. The first stamp depicts a peach with the figure of a monkey, which can be always used to celebrate someone's birthday. The second stamp shows a Chinese seal character of monkey in the background of red paper-cut featuring a magpie is announcing good news to everyone.

Year of the Cock China MINT Stamp Set 1993-1

Year of Cock (1993) Gui-You Year

Technical details:

Scott No: 2429-30
Serial number: 1993-1
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: January 5, 1993
Designers: Cai Lanying
Engravers: Hu Zhenyuan
Size: 26*31mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 32
Printing process: gravure-engraving combined

SN: (2-1)
Title: The Crow of a rooster Heralds the Break of day (Cock Herald the Break of Day)
Value: 20 fen

SN: (2-2)
Title: Being Lucky in Each Season (Auspicious in Four Seasons)
Value: 50 fen


Background info

For the convenience of farming production with clear seasonal changes, China traditionally applied the lunar calendar based on the shape of the moon. The order of years was composed of the ten Heavenly Stems and the Twelve Earthly Branches. The combination of Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding etc. in the ten Heavenly Stems and Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao etc in the Twelve Earthly Branches totals 60 kinds, which are called "60 Jia Zi" meaning a cycle of 60 years. Twelve animals match with the twelve Earthly Branches with each representing one year. Gui-You Year is the year of the cock. Therefore, cock is the symbolic animal for people born in this year.

In this set of stamps, the first one with white background and red cock implies our country will be more prosperous in the coming year. The second one, a Chinese character of "cock" with the drawing of peony, lotus, chrysanthemum and plum blossom around, symbolizes good luck for four seasons.

Year of the Dog China MINT Stamp Set 1994-1

1994 Year of Dog

Technical details:

Scott No: 2481-82
Serial number: 1994-1
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: January 5, 1994
Designers: Wu Jiankun; Yang Wenqing
Engravers: Hu Zhenyuan
Size: 26*31mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 32
Printing process: gravure-engraving combined

SN: (2-1)
Title: Family Blessings (The Whole Family Well and Happy)
Value: 20 fen

SN: (2-2)
Title: Auspicious and Prosperous
Value: 50 fen

Background info

The Chinese call "Jiaxu Year" "Year of the Dog", so the dog symbolizes good luck and happiness of the year.

Year of the Tiger China MINT Stamp Set 1998-1

Year of Tiger (1998 Wu-Yin Year)

Technical details:

Scott No: 2827-28
Serial number: 1998-1
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: January 5, 1998
Designers: Wang Huming ; Ma Gang
Size: 26*31mm
Perforation: 11.5
Sheet composition: 32
Printing process: gravure-engraving combined

SN: (2-1)
Title: The Tiger Toy (Awe - inspiring Tiger)
Value: 50 fen

SN: (2-2)
Title: The Calligraphy of Character "Hu" (Daring Tiger)
Value: 150 fen


Background info

1998 is the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese lunar calendar. The heavenly stems and earthly branches were the traditional Chinese method for numbering the years. The tiger is the third of the third of the 12 zodiac animals. In popular China, the tiger has always been considered the king of all beasts, a sign of might, strength the households. In Licheng of Shanxi Province, there is a legend about a tiger taming a mountain monster: The mountain monster, manipulating a drove of poisonous snakes, insects and scorpions, did harm to the local residents. When a deity came, he offered elixirs of life to detoxify the locals. Prior to his departure, he presented a "divine gift"-a gold tiger-to the locals. Safety had been guaranteed for the households and people of Licheng ever since. Later, locals began to sew cloth tigers of various descriptions, and children began to wear tiger-head shoes and tiger-head caps. This practice has been passed down to the present and has evolved into a local tradition.

The Year of the Tiger arrives with the spring and vigor of the tiger. The lovely cloth tiger from Licheng is chosen to the zodiac animals series of stamps: It is a work of fold art, vividly shaped, brightly coloured and yet simple and pure, and is full of vigor and vitality