Scott No: -
Serial number: 2007-1
Values in set: 1
Date of issue: January 5th, 2007
Denomination: 120 fen
Designer: Cheng Shaohua
Size of stamps: 36 * 36 mm
Perforation: 13
Size of Sheet I: 180 * 210 mm
Sheet(I) composition: 20
Size of Sheet II: 128 * 180 mm
Sheet(II) composition: 6
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

This stamp set was officially issued on January 5, 2007, as part of China Post's third cycle of zodiac stamp series. The set consists of one stamp with a face value of 1.20 yuan, designed by Chen Shaohua, with Shi Yuan serving as the responsible editor, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process.

The year 2007 is the Ding Hai Year of the Pig in the lunar calendar. In traditional Chinese folk culture, the pig symbolizes abundance, harmony, and good fortune. The stamp draws inspiration from the auspicious painted clay pig figurine, a popular folk art form. The design centers on the theme of "harmony brings prosperity," portraying a warm scene of family reunion. It conveys traditional blessings of good fortune, family happiness, and New Year prosperity, capturing the hopes of the Chinese people for a peaceful, joyful, and prosperous new year, while continuing the festive and auspicious creative direction of the third zodiac cycle.

Stamp Design and Historical Background

Ding Hai Year

The main image features a round and charming red mother pig, wearing a blue calico headscarf and a decorative shawl adorned with auspicious motifs such as bats, ruyi, and ancient coins. She is surrounded by five lively piglets—three huddled together nursing, one lying on her back, and another playfully tugging at her tail. The five piglets correspond to the folk concept of "Five Blessings Arriving at the Door." The blue calico fabric and traditional embroidery patterns incorporate elements of Chinese folk craftsmanship, while the overall scene radiates warmth and familial joy, emphasizing a harmonious and festive atmosphere.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp adopts a square format, full and well-proportioned, with a rich lacquer red as the dominant color, complemented by traditional blue, green, and gold tones. This gives the image a three-dimensional texture reminiscent of clay folk toys. The design is simple and rounded, with a playful and festive style. Details such as bats and coins are integrated as traditional symbols of good fortune. The six-pointed star-shaped perforations are a signature anti-counterfeiting feature of the third zodiac cycle. The photogravure printing ensures vivid, bright colors, resulting in a friendly, lively, and festive overall appearance that resonates with the New Year atmosphere.

This stamp is a classic Pig Year issue in the third zodiac series. It is available in a wide variety of collectible formats, including single stamp, large sheet, miniature sheet, souvenir sheet, and stamp booklet. Collectors often assemble the entire third zodiac series as a complete set of twelve animal stamps, making it one of the most popular and sought-after items in zodiac-themed modern stamp collecting.