Han Meilin(R) and Liu Aili chairman of China Post jointly unveil the Year of Pig stamps in Beijing. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

The importance of domesticated pigs as a source of food and a symbol of prosperity is manifested in many forms of Chinese culture, for example, the character of "jia (home)" is composed by a part "tun" which means the pig.

[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Such cultural implications of the pig have been realized in many forms, such as paintings, folk clays, paper-cutting are featured in a stamp book which China Post issued earlier this week as part of its endorsement for the launch of the Year of the Pig stamps, designed by versatile artist Han Meilin.

[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Han, 83, also designed the Year of the Pig stamps in 1983 and the Year of the Roosters in 2017.

China Post has offered a series of collectibles to go with the newly released set of two Year of the Pig stamps, including picture books and red envelopes, by which it continues to populate the rich traditions of Chinese zodiacs.