2009 $1 Melbourne Stamp Show Year of The Ox PNC

The Ox is highly respected in traditional Chinese society because it helps plough and harvest the land and signifies prosperity through fortitude and hard work. It is the second sign in the Chinese zodiac, having been cheated out of first position in the zodiac race by the Rat. Laozi, a prominent thinker in ancient China, on becoming discouraged with the political climate headed towards the wilderness on his faithful Ox. Before he left, he was asked to write down his knowledge. Sitting on his Ox, Laozi wrote Daode jing, the most important book in Taoism.