Scott No: -
Serial number: 2008-1
Values in set: 1
Date of issue: January 5, 2008
Denomination: 120 fen
Designer: Yu Ping , Ren Ping
Size of stamps: 36 * 36 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition:
20 for Sheet I;
6 for Sheet II
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

On January 5, 2008, the special stamp "Wu Zi Year" (catalog number 2008-1) was issued, marking the Year of the Rat in the third cycle of zodiac stamps. The set consists of one stamp with a face value of 1.20 yuan, designed by Yu Ping and Ren Ping, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process.

The Wu Zi year corresponds to the zodiac Rat, which is the first of the twelve zodiac animals, symbolizing beginnings, vitality, and intelligence. The third cycle of zodiac stamps continues the approach of folk art. This stamp features a rat in a style inspired by New Year paintings, preserving the traditional culture of the Chinese zodiac. The year 2008 coincided with the Beijing Olympics, and the Rat zodiac stamp also carries the hopes of the people for a prosperous and peaceful new year.

Stamp Design and Historical Background:

Wu Zi Year

Image: The main image is a colorful paper-cut style rat, adorned with decorative patterns and holding a full ear of wheat.
Significance: The wheat ear symbolizes a bountiful harvest and prosperity. The overall design draws on the folk art of paper-cutting from northern China, with vibrant and lively colors. As the first of the twelve zodiac animals, the rat symbolizes renewal and the start of spring.

Artistic and Design Features:

The stamp uses the standard square format of the third zodiac cycle, based on folk paper-cutting and New Year painting styles. The lines are simple and the colors are rich and festive. Unlike the realistic style of the second zodiac cycle, this design emphasizes folk and rustic characteristics. The stamp border continues the unified format of the third cycle, featuring the seal-script characters "Wu Zi." The stamp includes oval-shaped perforations, a uniform anti-counterfeiting feature of the third zodiac series.

This stamp is the fifth in the third cycle of zodiac stamps, available in various formats including single stamp, large sheet, miniature sheet, and stamp booklet. It is a core item for zodiac-themed collections and is often collected together with the complete set of the third cycle of twelve zodiac stamps.