Scott No: 3083-4
Serial number: 2001-2
Values in set: 2
Denomination: 3.60 yuan
Date of issue: 5 January 2001
Designer: Hu Zhenyuan
Engraver: Hu Zhenyuan
Size: 26*31 mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 32
Printing process: engraving-gravure
Printer: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

The stamp set was issued on January 5, 2001. It is a special stamp set consisting of two stamps with a total face value of 3.60 yuan. The designer and engraver is Hu Zhenyuan. It was printed using a combination of offset and intaglio printing by Beijing Stamp Printing Works. It is the tenth set in the second cycle of zodiac stamps.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Auspicious Snake Blessing

The design is based on a paper-cut work by the Shaanxi folk paper-cut artist Bai Xiu'e. Against a white background, a colorfully decorated snake has a graceful form, with its head slightly lowered. The body is adorned with plum blossom patterns. In the upper right corner is an oval red seal reading "Xinsi Year." In folk culture, the snake is called the "little dragon," symbolizing an auspicious snake bringing blessings and flowers blooming in prosperity. It conveys good wishes for good fortune and well-being in the New Year.

Auspicious Fortune Shines Everywhere

The design uses a paper-cut by the folk artist Jia Sigui as its base, with a green background. In the center is the character for "snake" in red regular script. In the background, two snakes face each other holding a lotus, accompanied by traditional auspicious motifs such as the rising sun, pomegranates, bats, and auspicious clouds. The rising sun symbolizes light, pomegranates symbolize many descendants and blessings, bats are homophonous with "fortune," and auspicious clouds represent good luck. The motifs together gather multiple auspicious meanings, wishing for blessings to shine everywhere in the New Year.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp set combines folk paper-cut art with the offset-intaglio printing technique. The lines are simple and rich, full of rustic folk flavor. One stamp features the zodiac animal image, and the other features a Chinese character and auspicious patterns, with compositions that echo each other. The colors are bright and festive. The set blends the folk aesthetic of traditional paper-cutting with stamp engraving techniques, perfectly presenting the cultural significance of the zodiac.