Scott Number: -
Serial number: 2011-22
Values in set: 4
Denomination: 480 fen
Date of issue: September 10, 2011
Size of stamp: 40 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition: 16 (Value 1, 2 in sheet I; Value 3, 4 in Sheet II)
Size of Sheet: 230 * 150 mm
Designer: Yin Huili, Mu Jing
Printing process: Photogravure
Printer: Beijing Stamp Printing House

On September 10, 2011, the special stamp "Traditional Minority Sports (II)" (catalog number 2011-22) was officially issued, coinciding with the opening day of the 9th National Traditional Minority Sports Games. The set consists of four stamps, each with a face value of 1.20 yuan, for a total face value of 4.80 yuan. The stamps were designed by Yin Huili and Mu Jing, and printed by Beijing Stamp Printing Works using the photogravure process.

This is the second set in the "Traditional Minority Sports" series, featuring four traditional sports from southern minority groups: the Zhuang, Miao, Yi, and Tujia ethnicities. The stamps showcase distinctive folk competitive activities from various ethnic groups, reflecting the cultural significance of traditional minority sports encompassing entertainment, fitness, and social interaction. They preserve and promote ethnic folk culture, while resonating with the spirit of "equality, unity, struggle, and progress" of the National Traditional Minority Sports Games.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background:

Board Shoe Racing (Zhuang)

Image: Three athletes in traditional Zhuang attire running together on a single long board shoe, with stilt houses and southern vegetation in the background.
History: Board shoe racing originated among the Zhuang people in Guangxi. It is said to have its origins in the military training of General Wa Shi in the Ming Dynasty, emphasizing unity of pace and teamwork. It has now become an official event of the Minority Games.
Significance: A representative collective traditional sport of the Zhuang ethnic group.

Single Bamboo Drifting (Miao)

Image: A Miao athlete standing on a single bamboo pole, balancing with a bamboo pole, with elements of Miao batik and silver ornaments in the costume.
History: Single bamboo drifting is practiced in the Chishui Miao area of Guizhou. It originated as a labor skill for transporting bamboo by water and is known as "water ballet," a unique skill of the southwestern region.
Significance: A well-known intangible cultural heritage traditional sport from Guizhou.

Spinning Top (Yi)

Image: A Yi athlete swinging a whip to spin a top, with vibrant, colorful attire full of rural folk flavor.
History: Spinning tops has a long history and has long been popular among the Yi and other southwestern minority groups. It combines competition and entertainment, making it a traditional activity for all ages.
Significance: A traditional folk sport shared by many ethnic groups.

Stilt Racing (Tujia)

Image: A Tujia athlete striding forward on stilts, with terraced fields and stilted houses of western Hunan in the background.
History: Stilt racing, also known as "bamboo horse riding," is popular among the Tujia people in western Hubei and Hunan. It was originally used for travel on rainy days and later evolved into a competitive racing event.
Significance: A classic traditional sport of the Tujia ethnic group.

Artistic and Design Features:

Format: Uniform horizontal stamp format with dynamic and relaxed figure compositions, balancing movement and stillness across the four stamps.
Artistic Style: Ethnic decorative illustration style with rich, vibrant colors, accurately reproducing the distinctive clothing patterns of each ethnic group.
Regional Expression: Each stamp incorporates typical architecture and scenery of the corresponding ethnic region, enhancing regional identity.
Series Continuity: Complements the 2003-16 "Traditional Minority Sports (I)" set, with the northern and southern events mutually enriching each other.

This stamp set is an important continuation of the traditional minority sports series, covering minority culture, traditional sports, and intangible cultural heritage. All four events are characteristic of southern minority groups, complementing the northern events of the first set. It is suitable for collectors interested in minority culture, sports events, and southwestern regional themes, and carries special commemorative significance as it was issued in conjunction with the Guiyang National Minority Games.