Scott No: 3110-02
Serial number:2001-10
Values in set: 3
Denomination: 4.40 yuan
Date of issue:25th June 2001
Designer: Shang Yu and Huang Li
Size of stamps: 40*30mm
Perforation:13
Sheet compositon:
Sheet 1:40;
Sheet 2: 9
Printing process:gravure
Printer:Beijing Postage Stamp Printing House

This stamp set, Dragon Boat Festival, was issued on June 25, 2001. It is a special stamp set consisting of three stamps with a total face value of 4.40 yuan. The designer is Huang Li. It was printed using offset printing by Beijing Stamp Printing Works. The perforation gauge is 12 degrees, and each stamp measures 30×40 mm.

This stamp set features three core folk activities of the Dragon Boat Festival, using traditional painting to present the festival's character and recreate the folk customs of hanging mugwort, boat racing, and wrapping zongzi. It traces the cultural origins of the festival and preserves the long-standing traditional festival culture of the Chinese nation.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Dragon Boat Racing

Dragon boat racing is the most representative folk custom of the Dragon Boat Festival. According to legend, it originated from people rowing boats to search for Qu Yuan, who had thrown himself into the river. Later, it evolved into a water sports competition held during the festival. The stamp depicts multiple dragon boats cutting through the waves on a river, with rowers pulling their oars with all their might, a drummer at the bow beating the drum to encourage them, and crowds of spectators on the shore. The scene is passionate and exciting, reflecting the festive atmosphere of unity and striving to be first.

Wrapping Zongzi

Zongzi, called "horned millet" in ancient times, were wrapped and thrown into the river during the Dragon Boat Festival. Originally, this was to feed the fish and shrimp in the water to protect Qu Yuan's body. Over time, it became an essential food of the festival. The stamp depicts a scene of women sitting around a table, folding green reed leaves, filling them with rice, and tying them with string, focused on wrapping zongzi. The scene is simple and warm, recreating the atmosphere of domestic work during the festival.

Warding Off the Five Poisons

Folk belief held that poisonous insects proliferate in the fifth lunar month, and the custom of warding off the Five Poisons arose during the Dragon Boat Festival. The Five Poisons generally refer to the snake, scorpion, centipede, gecko, and toad. The ancients would hang mugwort and calamus, wear sachets, and post charms against the Five Poisons to ward off evil and prevent disease. The stamp depicts a child holding a sachet, with patterns of the Five Poisons beside them, accompanied by mugwort. It conveys the beautiful wish to ward off poison and disease and pray for the safety and health of family members.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp set uses a folk decorative painting style. The colors are bright and rich, and the figures are simple and vivid, full of rustic folk flavor. The three stamps correspond to the three major themes of water sports, domestic food customs, and warding off evil and praying for blessings, fully presenting the folk connotations of the Dragon Boat Festival from different dimensions. The lines are concise and lively, combining the beauty of New Year prints and vividly recreating the lively and prayerful festive character of the traditional Dragon Boat Festival.