Scott No: 2942-47
Serial number: 1999-2
Values in set: 6
Date of issue: March 16, 1999
Designers: Hu Zhenyuan
Size: 40*30mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 50
Printing process: offset

The special stamp set Han Dynasty Pictorial Stones was issued on March 16, 1999. It consists of six stamps with a total face value of 6.00 yuan. It was designed by Hu Zhenyuan and printed by Henan Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory using offset printing. Han Dynasty pictorial stones are carved stone decorative murals found in tombs, ancestral halls, and stone watchtowers of the Han Dynasty. They are treasures of Han Dynasty art. The stamp set selects six classic pictorial stones unearthed from different regions, showcasing Han Dynasty social production, music and dance, historical stories, and myths and legends, and reproducing the vigorous and simple style of Han Dynasty stone carving art.

Han Dynasty pictorial stones flourished during the Western and Eastern Han dynasties. Using the knife as a brush, they carved the production and daily life, banquets, music and dance, historical anecdotes, and immortal auspicious omens of the time onto stone. They are precious physical historical materials for studying Han Dynasty social life, beliefs, and aesthetic art. The stamp set selects six categories in sequence: farming, weaving, music and dance, chariot and horse processions, historical stories, and myths and legends. It balances realistic human scenes with the romantic mythological world. Using the style of stone rubbings, it brings the Han Dynasty scroll from two thousand years ago back to life on stamps.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Ox Plowing

The design is taken from a Han Dynasty pictorial stone in Suide, Shaanxi. In the image, two oxen pull a long-shafted plow. A farmer holds the plow and raises a whip, while a child behind him sows seeds. It reflects the advanced two-oxen plowing technique of the Han Dynasty and recreates agricultural production scenes in the Yellow River basin. It is a vivid visual record of Han Dynasty agricultural development.

Weaving

The design is taken from a Han Dynasty pictorial stone in Xuzhou, Jiangsu. It depicts an ancient family weaving scene, with each person performing their duties. It presents the appearance of folk weaving handicraft during the Han dynasties and reflects the prevalence of family economy and weaving techniques in the Han Dynasty.

Music and Dance

The design is taken from a Han Dynasty pictorial stone in Sichuan. It shows a banquet and variety show scene. Musicians and dancers perform acrobatics, music, and dance, while guests sit and watch. It vividly records the social fashion of aristocratic banquets and entertainment and the prevalence of variety shows during the Han Dynasty.

Chariot and Horse Procession

The design is taken from a Han Dynasty pictorial stone at Yangzishan in Chengdu, Sichuan. A grand procession of chariots and horses, with outriders in front and attendants behind, stretches in a magnificent display. It expresses the dignity of Han Dynasty aristocratic travel and is a vivid portrayal of the Han Dynasty chariot and horse system.

Jing Ke Assassinates the King of Qin

The design is taken from a Han Dynasty pictorial stone in Jiaxiang, Shandong. It depicts the famous historical story of Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the King of Qin. The figures are in tense and intense motion, with a highly dramatic composition. It reproduces this well-known historical story through stone carving art.

Chang'e Flying to the Moon

The design is taken from a Han Dynasty pictorial stone in Nanyang, Henan. Chang'e stretches her body as she flies toward the moon. Inside the moon is a toad, surrounded by swirling clouds. It is one of the most classic mythological images of the Han Dynasty, carrying the ancient romantic imagination of the universe and the lunar palace.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp set directly uses stone rubbings as the main images. The black-and-white stone carving lines are simple and vigorous, with each stamp paired with a different background color to set off the rubbing. The offset printing effectively reproduces the simple and substantial texture of the original stone rubbings, with clear and powerful carved lines. The six stamps cover production, banquets and entertainment, travel, historical events, and mythology, with rich content and diverse regional sources. They fully display the broad and profound artistic charm of Han Dynasty pictorial stones. It is a classic work in the category of ancient stone carving artifact stamps.