|
What Does a New Dragon Stamp Say About China? 龙年纪念邮票：这是条怎样的中国龙？ Many Chinese lined up on Thursday to buy a stamp commemorating China Year of the Dragon, which begins Jan. 23. But the image of the only fictional Chinese Zodiac animal has caused controversy and criticism online for appearing evil and ferocious. 许多中国人在周四排起长队，购买将于1月23日开始的中国农历新年龙年的纪念邮票。但是邮票上的龙显得邪恶凶残，引起了网上的争议和批评。龙是中国生肖中唯一存在于神话传说中的形象。 For many, the image of a fang-baring, paw-brandishing dragon is too belligerent. In response, stamp designer Chen Shaohua said that the authoritative and powerful image of the dragon was meant to demonstrate a confident and rising China. 对于许多人来说，这只尖牙利爪的龙显得太好斗了。邮票设计师陈绍华回应说，龙威严刚猛的形象代表着自信和崛起的中国。 On his personal blog , he compared his design to the previous two dragon stamps. He said the one for 1988 was a traditional Chinese paper-cut dragon because China was in a difficult time of reform then, and the design intentionally played down the dragon stateliness. In 2000, the last Year of the Dragon, the government was promoting a policy of keeping a low international profile, so the design depicted an elegant and sagacious dragon. | 
