In 2020, China Post is launching its Lunar New Year series with the issuance of the Lunar New Year: Year of the Rat stamp.

With a denomination of 2.4 yuan, the stamps, namely “Rats breaks the universe in chaos” and “Rats forebode a good harvest,” will be issued starting from January 5, available from post offices around China.

Designed by artist Han Meilin, the stamps deployed a traditional overprinting technique. To realize the effect of sudden sunlight in “Rats breaks the universe in chaos”, colorless fluorescent ink was used in the creation.

The rat (子)isthefirstof the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinesezodiacrelated to the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Rat is associated with the Earthly Branch symbol 子. Ancient people believed that the universe was in chaos in “Zi Shi”(which refers to 11pm to 1am), during which time rats are most active.

In Chinese culture, the rat is esteemed and even worshipped by people.