It is not new to see the 12 Chinese zodiac animals appear on stamps around the world since the first Tiger stamp was issued in Japan in 1950. So far, at least 16 countries and regions have issued special stamps for the upcoming Year of the Ox, which runs from January 26, 2009 to February 13, 2010, according to the Chinese lunar calendar.
Japan became the first to do so on November 4, 2008, followed by the Republic of Korea and Viet Nam on December 1; the Chinese mainland on January 5, 2009; the United States, Canada and China's Macau Special Administrative Region on January 8; France on January 10; Brazil on January 16 and China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on January 17. According to Zhou Zhihua, a professional collector of zodiac stamps, some 40 countries and regions will issue stamps in 2009 to greet the Year of the Ox.
Cultural fusion
"My reason for collecting zodiac stamps comes from my love for Chinese culture," said a French collector. "The stamp is small but can be regarded as a platform for cultural exchange."
It is common for zodiac stamp design in non-Chinese speaking countries to involve Chinese people, who can bridge Chinese culture with the local one. Kam Mak, designer of the Year of the Ox stamp in the United States, is an example. Mak was born in Hong Kong and grew up in Chinatown in New York City. To celebrate the Year of the Ox, Mak and Ethel Kessler, an art director from Bethesda, Maryland, chose a lion head that is often worn at parades and other Chinese festival occasions as the background illustration. "Kam is uniquely able to show how this holiday is observed in America," said Kessler.
Li Zhongyao, designer of the Year of the Ox stamp in France, is another example. Born in Wuxi City, central China's Jiangsu Province, Li moved to Paris in 1990. He was awarded a gold decoration from l'Association Mérite et Dévouement Français in 2006, becoming the first Chinese to receive the award. His stamp design for the Year of Dog in 2006, which included calligraphy and water-ink painting, was warmly received by stamp collectors. The Year of the Ox stamp is the third zodiac stamp Li has designed for the French mail service since its debut in 2005. "I'm trying to find a balance between Chinese and French cultures, and I think the water-ink painting will make it easier for foreigners to understand Chinese culture," Li said.
(Source: China Culture News) |