Six facts about Year of Monkey

KUNG FU

Made familiar in the monkey master in Kung Fu Panda, the monkey is an important symbol in the world of Chinese martial arts. The school of Monkey Boxing derives from the gestures of monkeys. The moves are agile and swift, with some of them even imitating the monkey in real life.

SYMBOL OF HIGH POSITION

The Chinese character for monkey is very similar to that for powerful men or high positions, and they are both pronounced "hou." So in the Chinese culture they are closely connected, as the monkey was considered an auspicious symbol for high social status, such as government officials or royalty.

In Chinese pinyin, "a monkey on a horse" is similar to "be promoted to a higher position immediately". Such combinations can often be found in folk arts, such as sculptures, paper-cuts and paintings.

MASCOT FOR GOOD HEALTH

The monkey is considered a symbol of health and longevity, as many kinds of monkeys have white beards like old men.

In ancient China, people also believed that monkeys were sensitive to the plague. Traders and merchants often traveled with a monkey to protect their horses from diseases.