Scott No: -
Serial number: 2014-23
Values in set: 2
Date of issue: September 30, 2014
Denomination of Stamps: 540 fen
Designer of Stamps: Lu Yanguang, Cao Guowei, Meng Fudan
Size of stamps: 30 * 50 mm
Perforation: 13.5
Sheet composition:
16 for Sheet I;
8 for Sheet II (2 sets)
Size of sheet:
150 * 224 mm for Sheet I;
160 * 126 mm for Sheet II
Printing process: Offset + Engraving
Printing House: Henan Provincal Postage Stamp Printing Works

On September 30, 2014, China Post will issue a set of four special stamps titled "Chinese Filial Piety (I)" with a total face value of 5.40 yuan. Each stamp measures 30 mm × 50 mm. Sheet I contains 16 stamps per sheet, with a sheet size of 150 mm × 224 mm. Sheet II contains two sets per sheet, measuring 160 mm × 224 mm. The stamps were designed by Lu Yanguang, Cao Guowei, and Meng Fudan, and printed by Henan Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory using a combination of engraving and offset printing.

The stamp set draws from the "Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars" and other stories of filial piety from ancient sages, depicting four tales: "Shun's Filial Piety Moves Heaven," "Carp Leap from the Spring," "Mulan Joins the Army in Place of Her Father," and "Learning Medicine to Heal Parents." The designers employed a decorative style, combining lines and color blocks to shape the figures and express the narratives. The figures are stylized with elongated forms, and the color treatment distinguishes primary and secondary elements effectively. The overall atmosphere of the designs is richly antique, evoking a sense of historical depth while also conveying emotional resonance and expressive power.

Filial piety is one of the fundamental sources of spiritual strength for the Chinese people. Issuing the "Chinese Filial Piety" stamp series is of great significance for further promoting the fine traditional culture of the Chinese nation. This is the first time China has issued stamps on the theme of filial piety. The "Chinese Filial Piety (I)" stamp set marks the beginning of this series, with China Post planning to release a total of six sets (each containing four stamps), which will fully present the stories of the Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars. If issued without interruption, the complete series is expected to be finished by 2020.

"Of all virtues, filial piety is the foremost." Loyalty and filial piety have long been the two fundamental moral principles in traditional Chinese society, shaped by centuries of social practice. They have profoundly influenced the moral thinking and behavior of generations of Chinese people. "To serve one's parents well is to be filial." From the perspective of respect and care, traditional Chinese filial piety encompasses several dimensions, including reverence, support, tending to parents in illness, self-cultivation, remonstration, and proper care at the end of life. As the core of traditional Chinese culture, the culture of filial piety has played a positive role in self-cultivation, family harmony, patriotism and dedication, social cohesion, and cultural development throughout Chinese history.