Monkeys , particularly macaques and monkey-like gibbons , have played significant roles in Chinese culture for over two thousand years. The Chinese language has numerous words meaning "simian; monkey; ape", some of which have diachronically changed meanings in reference to different simians. Note that the following discussion of "monkey; ape" terminology will cite three fundamental sources. The oldest extant Chinese dictionary, the c. Jue [1]. Compare the above definition of nao as a muhou "monkey" resembling a person. It crouches as it moves along and it runs like a human.

This page has been archived and is no longer updated. The Old World monkeys of Africa and Asia comprise approximately species in the family Cercopithecidae. They exhibit striking diversity in habitat , distribution, diet, and social behavior. Living in deserts, rainforests, snowy mountains, and even cities, Old World monkeys include two especially species-rich genera and several exceptionally widespread species.

Rhesus macaques are familiar brown primates with red faces and rears. They have close-cropped hair on their heads, which accentuates their very expressive faces. Rhesus macaques are Asian, Old World monkeys.