It was said in ancient times that "a monkey becomes an ape after 800 years, which becomes a huge monkey after another 500 years." In Chinese paintings, white monkeys are used to celebrate prosperity and long life.
想咱們猴、猿、玃之屬，自古即為長壽象徵，古謂「獼猴壽八百歲變為猿；壽五百歲變為玃」，國畫中總以白猿賀人「福壽兼備」。