On September 16, China Post Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as China Post Group) held a launch ceremony for the printing of special stamps for the Year of Renyin. Chairman of China Post Group Liu Aili, Vice President Kang Ning, the famous artist and designer of the zodiac stamps for the Year of Renyin Feng Dazhong, the Dean of Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University and Vice Chairman of China Artists Association Lu Xiaobo attended the ceremony.

Liu Aili (right) and Feng Dazhong jointly initiate the stamp printing.

Kang Ning (left) and Feng Dazhong jointly sign the stamp samples.

Kang Ning said in his speech that Chinese stamp commits to the mission of telling Chinese stories, displaying Chinese temperament, presenting Chinese image, and promoting Chinese spirit. A piece of small stamp condenses the Chinese culture which features a long history, great changes which transcends time and space, and the national spirit of great aspiration. Nowadays, with its ever-changing appearance, Chinese stamp is witnessing the great cause of the country entering a new era and embarking on a new journey. As a masterpiece of Chinese stamps, zodiac stamps are not only the emotional sustenance to spread the blessings of the New Year, but also carry the good wishes for the prosperity of the country. The special stamps for the Year of Renyin are the seventh set in the fourth round of Chinese zodiac stamps. The special stamps continue the concept of “love for family and country” of the fourth round of zodiac stamps. There are two stamps in a set. The first stamp is named “National Prosperity”, which depicts the image of a majestic tiger climbing the mountain, standing and looking far away, conveying the meaning of national prosperity and lofty ideal; the second one named “Auspicious Tigers” depicts the warm scene of a gentle-faced mother tiger with two little ones, implying a thriving and happy family.

In his speech, Lu Xiaobo spoke highly of the cooperation between Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University and China Post. For a long time, the teachers and students of Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University have not only participated in the design and creation of stamps, but also have been deeply involved in the evaluation and engraving of stamps. They have worked closely with China Post to jointly create serious wonderful stamps. He hoped that Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University and China Post would continue to carry out in-depth cooperation to make the light of art shine infinitely through stamps.

At the ceremony, Feng Dazhong wrote the eight vigorous and powerful Chinese characters of “国运昌隆虎蕴吉祥” which means the prosperous nation and thriving families in the Year of Tiger, and donated the manuscripts he drew for the special stamps for the Year of Renyin to China Post for permanent collection. The famous contemporary artist Han Meilin, chairman of the Chinese Ballad Singers Association Jiang Kun and people from all walks of life expressed their blessings via videos for the printing of the Year of Renyin zodiac stamps and expectations for the Year of the Tiger.

The images of the tigers in the Year of Renyin zodiac stamps are painted realistically, capturing the nature of the tiger, and interpreting the beauty of the tiger in detail. The stamps are presented by offset printing combined with engraving with richer and more delicate image details, which are both anti-counterfeiting and artistic in the printing process. On January 5, 2022, the Year of Renyin zodiac stamps will be officially on sale.