Scott No:
Serial number: 2006-29
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: December 3, 2006
Denomination: 240 fen
Designer: Fang Jun
Size of stamps: 50*30 mm
Perforation: 13*12.5
Sheet composition: 16 (8 sets)
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

This stamp set was issued on December 3, 2006. It consists of two stamps with a total face value of 2.40 yuan, designed by Fang Jun, with Chen Jing serving as the responsible editor, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process. The two stamps are designed in a continuous format.

This stamp set features the ancient painting Divine Steed. The painting depicts the story of the Eastern Jin scholar Zhi Dun and his love for horses. Through the free and spirited portrayal of the horse, it reflects the transcendent and carefree spirit of the Wei and Jin literati, showcasing the extraordinary skill of ancient Chinese gongbi painting with rich colors.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Divine Steed (Detail 1)

The stamp depicts a magnificent horse without saddle or reins, raising its head and crossing the water with a powerful and full-bodied stance. A child with flowing hair rides on its back, holding a wooden staff with a relaxed and carefree expression. The artist uses fine and flowing lines to depict the rippling water, with the dark water highlighting the bright and soft form of the horse, creating a dynamic and lively scene of the horse returning from a bath, galloping across the blue waves.

Divine Steed (Detail 2)

On a stone platform by the shore, Zhi Dun and a scholar sit side by side, leaning forward slightly with focused attention on the approaching horse. A servant stands nearby with a falcon perched on his arm, the figures calm and composed. The rocks and trees are simply outlined, and the shore scene echoes the water, creating a contrast of movement and stillness, presenting the elegant scene of the scholars admiring the horse.

Artistic and Design Features

The two horizontal stamps are connected to form a complete ancient painting scroll, faithfully reproducing the aged and simple yellow tones of the original silk. The delicate gongbi lines and the elegant, classic colors are carefully preserved. The photogravure printing provides rich and soft layers, with the water ripples, clothing, and horse figures finely and expressively rendered. The overall design is rich in ancient charm, combining narrative and artistic beauty. The stamps incorporate anti-counterfeiting features such as security paper, security ink, and fluorescent spray codes.

This stamp set is a special issue on the theme of ancient Chinese paintings, suitable for thematic collections on traditional Chinese art and horse-themed relics.