The Year of the Snake stamps hold a special place in the hearts of many Chinese people.
On January 5th, 2025, China Post unveiled a set of two special stamps to celebrate the upcoming Chinese zodiac Year of the Snake.
2025 marks the Yisi (乙巳) Year of the Snake. The design of this year’s stamp is inspired from Dunhuang murals and traditional folklore, symbolizing good fortune. For instance, one stamp features a vibrant yellow snake with large, expressive eyes holding a bundle of wheat, representing abundance and prosperity. The other stamp showcases three intertwined snakes forming the Chinese character “福” (Fu), which means blessings.
According to the designer Zhang Wang, the stamps also integrate elements of Chinese calligraphy to convey the snake’s strength and elegance. “You’ll notice lotus and cloud patterns, which are not only prominent in Chinese culture but also seen globally—from Egypt to India. Furthermore, These motifs, beautifully preserved in Dunhuang murals, remind us of the shared artistic heritage across civilizations. Through these stamps, we want to highlight the positive and endearing qualities of snakes in Chinese culture,” Zhang explained.
This year marks the second time the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao SARs have issued zodiac stamps in a souvenir sheet. In addition, The design of snake appears on each stamp in various shapes and colors, offering a richer interpretation of the same traditional zodiac culture across different times and places.
Good Fortune and Traditional Culture
China has issued Chinese zodiac-themed stamps annually since 1980. Let’s take a closer look at the first three zodiac snake stamps.
•1989, the Jisi (己巳) Year of the Snake: The snake’s body is painted with peonies, lotuses, chrysanthemums, and plum blossoms. Besides, It holds an auspicious Ganoderma lucidum in its mouth, meaning good luck throughout the year and prosperity across all four seasons.
•2013, the Guisi (癸巳) Year of the Snake: The stamp features a vibrant snake with a red background. Its body is adorned with traditional Chinese flower patterns, including peonies and lotuses, while its tail is decorated with colorful auspicious clouds.
•2001, the Xinsi (辛巳) Year of the Snake: Inspired by folk paper-cutting art, the stamp depicts an agile and lively snake, symbolizing good fortune.
These stamps celebrate the cultural significance of the zodiac and reflect the artistic changes of Chinese stamp design over the decades.
Written by Chen Wang, additional reporting by CNS、ChinaPost、CCTV、CGTN.
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