Stamp lovers and other members of the public may view a temporary exhibition featuring the 11 animals and one mythical creature of the Chinese zodiac set up at the Communications Museum* on Estrada de D. Maria II (澳門馬交石炮台馬路七號).
Organised by the museum, the free admission exhibition is titled “Chinese Zodiac in Postage Stamps” Temporary Exhibition and, according to museum staff yesterday, is on for around a year. Museumgoers will find the featured exhibits, along with their descriptions in Chinese, displayed across the museum’s ground floor, where related interactive exhibits are also showcased for visitors.
The 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac comprise the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon (a mythical creature, unlike the others), Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig, with a statement on the museum website noting that while the zodiac composition may vary by place, they are vital to many cultures. This is particularly significant in China, the statement highlighted, with each of the twelve signs linked to rich legends that create a symbolic philosophy in folk culture.
Around 80 countries and regions annually issue special zodiac-themed stamps during the Spring Festival to convey blessings for the Lunar New Year, the website statement noted, with the museum’s exhibits featuring some of them. “This exhibition showcases the 12 Chinese zodiac stamps issued by various regions, inviting everyone to explore the rich cultural significance of the zodiac”, as noted on the museum’s website.
Moreover, aside from the displays on the ground floor, exhibitiongoers may continue their visit upwards to the first and second floors, where various other displays, including interactive ones, can be found. Among them are a philately section and an exhibition titled “Chinese Scientists on Postage Stamps” on the first floor, along with those themed after communications, including broadcasting and telecommunications, on the museum’s second floor.
Museumgoers may visit the exhibition daily, including on public holidays, from 9 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. More detailed descriptions on the zodiac signs and the museum’s various other exhibits can also be found by visiting www.cmm.gov.mo.
The museum was inaugurated on March 1, 2006 and is part of the Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau (CTT).
Exhibits of the Chinese Zodiac in Postage Stamps temporary exhibition on the Ground Floor of the Communications Museum taken yesterday by Rui Pastorin.
