Year of the Rat: Chinese paintings pair rodents with fruits for fertility As the Year of the Rat resets the Chinese zodiac's 12-year cycle, art historians say even the less-loved rodent — known for stealing food — carry auspicious meaning when depicted in traditional ink paintings. An exhibition in a university art museum in Hong Kong showcases rats and squirrels nibbling grapes and melons — symbols of fertility, a trait much-sought after in Chinese culture.