Scott No: -
Serial number: 2017-8
Values in set: 3
Date of issue: April 9, 2017
Denomination: 360 fen
Designer: Xia Jinqiu
Size of stamps: 30 * 40 mm
Perforation: 13.5
Sheet composition: 18 (6 sets)
Sheet Size: 240 * 150 mm
Printing process: Offset
Printing House: Henan Provincal Postage Stamp Printing Works

China Post issued a set of 3 special stamps themed "Jade Articles of Hongshan Culture" on April 9, 2017. The stamps respectively feature three representative cultural relics: the jade dragon, the jade phoenix and the jade human figurine. Each stamp has a face value of 1.20 yuan, with a total face value of 3.60 yuan. The original patterns of the stamps are selected from the cultural relics unearthed at the Niuheliang Site in Liaoning Province. Adopting offset printing technology combined with local hot stamping and embossing techniques, the stamps highlight the simple and mysterious artistic characteristics of the jade articles of Hongshan Culture.

Hongshan Culture is the most important Neolithic archaeological culture in northeastern China. It derived its name from the excavation of the Hongshan Hou Site in Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It is mainly distributed in southeastern Inner Mongolia, western Liaoning and northern Hebei, dating back approximately 6,500 to 5,000 years ago. The jade articles of Hongshan Culture are diverse in types, represented by jade dragons, jade phoenixes, jade human figurines and so on. The jade dragon on the stamp was unearthed in Xiawa Town, Aohan Banner, Inner Mongolia. With a dragon head featuring large, protruding round eyes and upright big ears, its body is curled into a ring shape like a jade pendant. It is a typical jade article frequently discovered in Hongshan Culture remains. Both the jade human figurine and the jade phoenix on the stamps were unearthed at the Niuheliang Site in Liaoning Province. Among them, the jade phoenix has a curved neck looking backward, with distinct layers of wings and elegant, smooth lines; the jade human figurine carves the image of a shaman who is possessed by gods and performing divination rituals.

The jade articles of Hongshan Culture have a long history. Without intricate decorative patterns or complex shapes, their artistic designs are characterized by simplicity, plainness and grand beauty. Through local hot stamping and embossing techniques, this set of stamps vividly and thoroughly depicts the artistic characteristics of Hongshan Culture jade articles—being both unadorned and mysteriously noble.