910) Year of the Pig -2019: A 100 KGS Stamp issued by Kyrgyz Express Post on 31.01.2019:
For other interesting posts on Kyrgyzstan Express Post (KEP) issues and Banknotes of Kyrgyzstan, please visit the following links:
For other interesting posts on Kyrgyzstan Express Post (KEP) issues and Banknotes of Kyrgyzstan, please visit the following links:
Kyrgyzstan has issued on 31.01.2019, the new Lunar year Stamp, which celebrates the "Year of the Pig". This is the second year in the 12 year long series, which concludes in 2030.
How does the Lunar or Chinese Zodiac work?
How does the Lunar or Chinese Zodiac work?
I consulted some of the books which have been kept in my personal library and got acquainted with some interesting facts about the Chinese Zodiac/calendar:
The exact origins of the 12 animal signs is rather lost in the obscurity of time, but there is no doubt that they originated in China. In terms of Chinese astrological "history", the 12 animals are a rather recent introduction - for it seems that in the 2nd Century BC, Ssu Ma Chi'en (163-85 BC), who was the grand astrologer to Emperor Wu Ti, wrote the Shi Chi or "historical record" which was a complete history of the Chinese up to that time. In this book, there is no "Zodiac" or mention of the 12 animals.
Originally, the 12 year cycle that it takes the planet Jupiter to complete one orbit of the Sun was believed to have defined the earlier calendars. The Chinese still call this cycle "the Great Year" and each month corresponds to one of our own years.
By the 10th Century AD, however, after Buddhism had been established in China, Calendar Almanacs, such as those written by the Tibetan monks in exile in the "Caves of the Thousand Buddhas" monastery in the remote reaches of North-western China, depicting the 12 animals, came into existence.
The legend of the Conference of animals called by the Buddha and naming of the 12 year cycle after 12 animals, for the Chinese Calendar:
According to a legend, it was the Buddha (583-463 BC), who created the12-animal cycle. He is believed to have invited all the animals in the land to hold a conference together. The Buddha was not surprised, as in his wisdom, he knew that some of the animals were friendly towards others, while others were enemies.
To encourage attendance, he decided to name the years after the first twelve animals, in order of their arrival.
An invitation from the Buddha was hard to resist, and when they heard the news, all the animals set off at once, each determined to be the first to arrive.
Tiger, because of his energy and speed, at first took the lead, soon, though, he began to tire and the early lead that he had achieved over his next rival Ox, who may have been slow, but had great stamina, soon dissipated. Ox reached the Buddha ahead of Tiger and prepared to bow down mow to receive his honour.
But, what the sturdy Ox did not know, was that clever Rat has sneaked a ride on his tail !! Just before Ox's nose touched the floor at the Buddha's feet, nimble and swift Rat ran up Ox's tail, along his back and jumped off his nose, thus winning the race to be the first to bow before the Buddha. So Rat (or "Tse" is its Chinese name), became the first animal in the Chinese Zodiac, followed by a rather resentful Ox ("Chou").
Tiger ("Yin"), Rabbit ("Mao"), Dragon ("Chen"), Snake ("Si"), Horse ("Wu"), Goat ("Wei"), Monkey ("Shen"), Rooster ("You"), Dog ("Xu") and Pig ("Hai") all followed, and in that order, paid homage to the Buddha and were each honoured with a year.
Interestingly, Dragon is the only mythical beast in the Chinese Circle of Zodiacal animals.
According to the Lunar or Chinese Zodiac, each year is assigned to the above-referred animals according to a 12-year cycle. As such, the Year of the Pig includes, for example - 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 and 2031.
This year is "Year of the Pig" (2019):
As with Western Zodiac, persons born within that year are said the possess certain personality traits or have pre-destined luck in romance, fortune and other aspects which bring happiness or sorrow.
The Sign of the Pig emphasises the importance of family. Those born under this sign are considered astrologically very fortunate, as Pig is associated with virility and fertility. The Sign of the Pig is associated with characteristics of sincerity, generosity and capability, with great strength of character.
Persons born under the Sign of the Pig are honest, courageous, hard-working, caring, simple and love their food. They are very industrious and with careful planning can achieve their goals. They love to complete their goals/projects.
They are ideally suited to technical, scientific and practical careers, and because thay are good listeners are able to deal with people and make good managers. They hate hypocrisy and lying.
The celebration of the "Year of the Pig" (2019):
It is a tradition that in celebration of the Chinese New Year, people from all over the world exchange gifts. Gifts of money are still the most frequently chosen presents in China. Traditionally, they are put in red envelopes and there is an old Chinese saying that at the end of the day, you receive almost as much money, as you have given away.
The second most popular gift in China is the lucky symbol connected to the Chinese Zodiac that initiates the new Lunar Year. Countless gifts shaped like or depicting a pig were exchanged to mark the "Year of the Pig".
About the Stamp issue by the Kyrgyz Express Post:
The exact origins of the 12 animal signs is rather lost in the obscurity of time, but there is no doubt that they originated in China. In terms of Chinese astrological "history", the 12 animals are a rather recent introduction - for it seems that in the 2nd Century BC, Ssu Ma Chi'en (163-85 BC), who was the grand astrologer to Emperor Wu Ti, wrote the Shi Chi or "historical record" which was a complete history of the Chinese up to that time. In this book, there is no "Zodiac" or mention of the 12 animals.
Originally, the 12 year cycle that it takes the planet Jupiter to complete one orbit of the Sun was believed to have defined the earlier calendars. The Chinese still call this cycle "the Great Year" and each month corresponds to one of our own years.
By the 10th Century AD, however, after Buddhism had been established in China, Calendar Almanacs, such as those written by the Tibetan monks in exile in the "Caves of the Thousand Buddhas" monastery in the remote reaches of North-western China, depicting the 12 animals, came into existence.
The legend of the Conference of animals called by the Buddha and naming of the 12 year cycle after 12 animals, for the Chinese Calendar:
According to a legend, it was the Buddha (583-463 BC), who created the12-animal cycle. He is believed to have invited all the animals in the land to hold a conference together. The Buddha was not surprised, as in his wisdom, he knew that some of the animals were friendly towards others, while others were enemies.
To encourage attendance, he decided to name the years after the first twelve animals, in order of their arrival.
An invitation from the Buddha was hard to resist, and when they heard the news, all the animals set off at once, each determined to be the first to arrive.
Tiger, because of his energy and speed, at first took the lead, soon, though, he began to tire and the early lead that he had achieved over his next rival Ox, who may have been slow, but had great stamina, soon dissipated. Ox reached the Buddha ahead of Tiger and prepared to bow down mow to receive his honour.
But, what the sturdy Ox did not know, was that clever Rat has sneaked a ride on his tail !! Just before Ox's nose touched the floor at the Buddha's feet, nimble and swift Rat ran up Ox's tail, along his back and jumped off his nose, thus winning the race to be the first to bow before the Buddha. So Rat (or "Tse" is its Chinese name), became the first animal in the Chinese Zodiac, followed by a rather resentful Ox ("Chou").
Tiger ("Yin"), Rabbit ("Mao"), Dragon ("Chen"), Snake ("Si"), Horse ("Wu"), Goat ("Wei"), Monkey ("Shen"), Rooster ("You"), Dog ("Xu") and Pig ("Hai") all followed, and in that order, paid homage to the Buddha and were each honoured with a year.
Interestingly, Dragon is the only mythical beast in the Chinese Circle of Zodiacal animals.
According to the Lunar or Chinese Zodiac, each year is assigned to the above-referred animals according to a 12-year cycle. As such, the Year of the Pig includes, for example - 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 and 2031.
This year is "Year of the Pig" (2019):
As with Western Zodiac, persons born within that year are said the possess certain personality traits or have pre-destined luck in romance, fortune and other aspects which bring happiness or sorrow.
The Sign of the Pig emphasises the importance of family. Those born under this sign are considered astrologically very fortunate, as Pig is associated with virility and fertility. The Sign of the Pig is associated with characteristics of sincerity, generosity and capability, with great strength of character.
Persons born under the Sign of the Pig are honest, courageous, hard-working, caring, simple and love their food. They are very industrious and with careful planning can achieve their goals. They love to complete their goals/projects.
They are ideally suited to technical, scientific and practical careers, and because thay are good listeners are able to deal with people and make good managers. They hate hypocrisy and lying.
The celebration of the "Year of the Pig" (2019):
It is a tradition that in celebration of the Chinese New Year, people from all over the world exchange gifts. Gifts of money are still the most frequently chosen presents in China. Traditionally, they are put in red envelopes and there is an old Chinese saying that at the end of the day, you receive almost as much money, as you have given away.
The second most popular gift in China is the lucky symbol connected to the Chinese Zodiac that initiates the new Lunar Year. Countless gifts shaped like or depicting a pig were exchanged to mark the "Year of the Pig".
About the Stamp issue by the Kyrgyz Express Post:
The Mini-Sheet (MS) of stamps issued in a set of five stamps with one coupon/label depicting a Pig
Technical specifications of the MS:
Paper: coated, gummed, 105 g/sq. m
Printing Method: one-colour offset lithography + hot foil stamping
Stamp Perforation: comb 3 symcopated
Stamp Size: 34.0 mm x 34.0 mm
Mini-Sheet size: 134.0 x 34 mm
Stamps are issued in Mini-Sheet of 5 stamps and 1 label. On the sheet borders there is a text: "Happy New Year" in Kyrgyz, Russian, English and Chinese languages.
Quantity issued: 6,000 pieces
Designer: Vitaliu Pogolsa
Printer House: "Nova Imprim".
A Mini-Sheet cancelled with a Kyrgyz Express Post, Bishkek Post Office Cancellation Hand-stamp
A First Day Cover (FDC) released on the occasion
It bears at left the image of a pig facing right with the year "2019" in the background. Also on the left periphery is the inscription "Official First Day Cover" and on the lower periphery "Kyrgyz Express Post".
On top right is a 100 KGS stamp cancelled with a special pictorial first day cancellation Handstamp of Bishkek KEP Office (729001) dated 31.01.2019.
The specifications of the FDC are:
Cover size: C6 (162 mm x 114 mm)
Printing Method: full-colour digital effect
Quantity issued: 400 pieces
Endorsing ink colour: black
Cover size: C6 (162 mm x 114 mm)
Printing Method: full-colour digital effect
Quantity issued: 400 pieces
Endorsing ink colour: black
The "Yellow Earth Pig" (Boar) facing left represented on this 100 KGS single stamp- the New Year symbol according to the Chinese Calendar. The Boar is represented on an ornamental, symbolic background.
Links to some more posts on the Chinese Lunar calendar/Zodiac signs on this Blog:
