Recently, China issued a set of zodiac stamps to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year of the Dog. The theme for this round of zodiac stamps is "happy family", and the new stamps depict Chinese domestic dogs. The year 2018 marks Chinese "Wu Xu Year", the Year of the Dog. In fact, not only zodiac stamps, elements of Chinese New Year can
be found in many forms of Chinese folk arts.
Zodiac stamps for Year of the Dog
A customer shows a first day cover with the newly issued zodiac stamp
in Xicheng district of Beijing, capital of China, Jan 5, 2018. China
Post issued a set of special zodiac stamps for the Year of Dog with two
different designs Friday. The Year of Dog, or Chinese traditional lunar
New Year of this year, starts from Feb 16. [Photo/Xinhua]
China Post says the first stamp
depicts a male dog with its chin up and its eyes straight ahead. Its
two ears point upward, while its hind legs are forcefully thrust against
the ground, ready to pounce on any intruders.
The second stamp shows a brown bitch lovingly gazing at its puppy.
The black puppy holds its head up high and tries to stand straight. The
mother and the puppy stand side by side, demonstrating maternal love.
The two stamps are connected, signifying a peaceful, harmonious family, and a prosperous, flourishing nation.
New Year Paintings
Photo taken on Dec 24, 2017 shows Jiajiang New Year Paintings in
Jiajiang county of Leshan city, Southwest China's Sichuan
province. [Photo/Xinhua]
New Year Painting is a unique art form in Chinese folk culture, which
is used to decorate doors, walls and windows on the Chinese New Year to
invite heavenly blessings.
Photo taken on Dec 24, 2017 shows the process of making Jiajiang
wooden pallet New Year Paintings in Jiajiang county of Leshan city,
Southwest China's Sichuan province. [Photo/Xinhua]
Tiger-head shoes
Photo taken on Dec 24, 2017 shows a pair of tiger-head shoes made by
Zhao Kaiying in Tancheng county of Linyi, East China's Shandong
province. Zhao Kaiying, 85-year-old, has been making tiger-head shoes
for more than 20 years. Tiger-head shoes, with their bright colors and
intricate patterns, is a traditional wearing for children in China
symbolizing good wishes. [Photo/Xinhua]
Tiger-head shoes are an example of traditional Chinese folk
handicraft used as footwear for children. Their name comes from the toe
cap, which looks like the head of a tiger.
In Chinese culture, tigers are regarded as auspicious and people
embroider the head and the upper of the shoes with tiger or tiger-head
patterns in the hope that their children will become as robust and
dynamic as tigers.
Tiger-head caps and shoes have a huge market particularly during the cold winter and the New Year period.
Zhao Kaiying makes tiger-head shoes in Tancheng county of Linyi, East
China's Shandong province, Dec 24, 2017. Zhao Kaiying, 85-year-old, has
been making tiger-head shoes for more than 20 years. Tiger-head shoes,
with their bright colors and intricate patterns, is a traditional
wearing for children in China symbolizing good wishes. [Photo/Xinhua]
Dog-shaped dough modelling
Folk artist Kan Zongqin makes dough modellings in Shizhong district
of Zaozhuang, East China's Shandong province, Dec 24, 2017. Kan made
dough modellings of 12 zodiac animals to greet the upcoming Chinese
lunar new year, which falls on Feb 16, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]
Folk artist Kan Zongqin makes a dog-shaped
dough modelling
in Shizhong district of Zaozhuang, East China's Shandong province, Dec
24, 2017. Kan made dough modellings of 12 zodiac animals to greet the
upcoming Chinese lunar new year, which falls on Feb 16,
2018. [Photo/Xinhua]
Miniature sculpture to greet Year of Dog
Artist Chen Forng Shean looks at his miniature sculpture in Taipei,
Southeast China's Taiwan, Dec 18, 2017. Chen Forng Shean, a sculpture
artist in Taiwan, made a miniature dog sculpture with resin material.
Chen made the sculpture to greet the Year of the Dog. [Photo/Xinhua]
Photo taken on Dec 18, 2017 shows the miniature dogs sculpture in
Taipei, Southeast China's Taiwan. Chen Forng Shean, a sculpture artist
in Taiwan, made the miniature sculpture with resin material. Chen made
the sculpture to greet the Year of the Dog. [Photo/Xinhua]
Paper cutting
Jia Shurong (L), a paper cutting artisan, teaches a girl at Hengqu
experimental middle school in Luanxian county, North China's Hebei
province, Dec 29, 2017. The local government has encouraged schools to
open paper cutting class to teach the youth traditional
cultures. [Photo/Xinhua]
The art of paper-cutting
in China may date back to the second century AD, since paper was
invented by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han Dynasty(25-220 AD) in China. As
paper became more affordable, paper-cutting became one of the most
important of Chinese folk arts.
Usually, the artworks are made of red paper, as red is associated
with festivities and happiness in Chinese culture, but other colors are
also used. They often appear at Spring Festival, weddings and
childbirth, and always symbolize luck and happiness.
Students practice paper cutting at Puyu School in North China's
Tianjin municipality, Jan 3, 2018. Intangible cultural heritage lessons,
such as Yangliuqing new year painting, paper cutting and traditional
drum performance, were introduced into the school. [Photo/Xinhua]
Couplets
Students present couplets written by themselves at No.2 Experimental
Primary School in Changxing county, East China's Zhejiang province, Dec
29, 2017. Various activities were held at the primary and middle schools
in the county to greet the upcoming New Year. It is a tradition for
Chinese to paste couplets on walls to solicit good luck during the
Spring Festival. [Photo/Xinhua]