China Stamps - 2006-1, SB30, Scott 3466 Year of Dog (2006 Bing Wu Year) - Booklet, MNH, F-VF (9346E)

The year 2006, according to the Chinese lunar calendar, is the Bing-Xu Year, or the Year of Dog. The dog is man's reliable companion through thick and thin together. As early as in the matriarchal society, primitive men living in the Yellow River valley began to raise dogs. With the development of civilization, dogs had been used to tend sheep and cattle. Dogs were not only kept as pets, but also deified by people. Legend has it that a dog, named Xiao Tian Quan, helped its owner God Erlang to subdue evil spirits, singing the praises of dog's loyalty and courage.