Scott No: 2509-11
Serial number: 1994-10
Values in set: 2
Souvenir sheet: 1
Date of issue: August 25 , 1994
Designers: Xiao Yutian
Size of stamp: 52*31mm
Size of S/S: 145*80mm
Size of S/S stamp: 90*50mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 40
Printing process: gravure

The special stamp set Zhaojun's Journey to the Frontier, catalog number 1994-10, was issued on August 25, 1994. It consists of two stamps and one souvenir sheet, produced using the photogravure process. The stamps measure 52×31 mm, with a perforation gauge of 11.5 degrees. Each sheet contains 40 stamps. The souvenir sheet measures 145×80 mm, and the stamp image measures 90×50 mm. The stamps were designed by Xiao Yutian and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works.

Thematic Focus of the Set

This set draws on the famous historical story of Wang Zhaojun's marriage alliance with the Xiongnu during the Western Han Dynasty. In 33 BCE, Wang Zhaojun volunteered to marry Huhanye Chanyu of the Xiongnu, bringing about long-lasting peace between the Han and Xiongnu and ending border warfare. The stamps unfold along the narrative thread of the deep palace, the long journey, and the reunion through marriage, breaking away from the traditional narrative of sorrowful parting. They focus on praising the peaceful situation brought about by the marriage alliance, celebrating ethnic harmony and friendly integration, and conveying the historical significance of all ethnic groups supporting one another and prospering together.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Zhaojun

The image depicts Wang Zhaojun sitting on the ground in the deep palace, playing the pipa. Palace buildings and birds are in the background, expressing her state of being in the Han palace while her heart is set on distant lands. This is the beginning of the story, laying the groundwork for her voluntary request to travel and her journey to the frontier.

Journey to the Frontier

The image shows Zhaojun on the vast desert sands, wearing a red cloak, traveling westward on a camel with the marriage delegation and ceremonial guards. The vast wasteland enhances the sense of the long journey, depicting the scene of leaving her homeland and heading to the northern desert.

Souvenir Sheet: Marriage Alliance

The souvenir sheet depicts the grand scene after Zhaojun's arrival among the Xiongnu, where Huhanye Chanyu leads his people to welcome her and the two peoples meet. Under the tent, host and guest meet, with complete ceremonial music, marking the climax of the marriage alliance story and symbolizing the reconciliation and peace between the Han and Xiongnu peoples.

Artistic and Design Features

The set uses the gongbi (meticulous brushwork) and rich-color Chinese painting style. The figures are gentle and expressive, and the colors are elegant and substantial. The two stamps progress from the inner palace to the vast desert, with the scene atmosphere shifting from stillness to movement, with a coherent narrative. The souvenir sheet, with its grand and lively scene, serves as the finale. The images balance the literary charm of the historical story, downplaying sorrow and focusing on rendering the theme of peaceful reunion. The figures' clothing and ceremonial objects reference the styles of the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu. It is a classic work with a strong narrative quality in the category of ethnic-themed stamps.