China's dragon stamp breathes criticism, fear (AP)

BEIJING ? A stamp designed for China's Year of the Dragon is raising criticism for being too ferocious.

The stamp depicts a teeth-baring dragon, and its designer says the image was intended to reflect China's rising power.

Chinese writer Zhang Yihe wrote on her Sina Weibo microblog that she was "scared to death" when she first saw the creature with scales and claws.

Its designer, Chen Shaohua, says he had received criticism, abuse and support for the stamp. He says that the dragon should be interpreted as a symbol of China's rising confidence.

The stamp went on sale Thursday across China.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120105/ap_on_re_as/as_china_dragon_stamp

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