Scott No: -
Serial number: 2018-11
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: May 19, 2018
Denomination: 480 fen
Designer: Chen Jingyi
Size of stamps: 40 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition: 200 * 120mm
Printing process: Offset
Printing House: Henan Provincal Postage Stamp Printing Works

In a broad sense, the Silk Road includes both the Overland Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road. The Overland Silk Road originated in the Western Han Dynasty. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty dispatched Zhang Qian on a mission to the Western Regions, and thus opened this overland route. Starting from Chang'an (present-day Xi'an), it passed through Gansu, Xinjiang, extended to Central Asia and Western Asia, and connected with various countries around the Mediterranean Sea. While facilitating economic and trade exchanges, the Silk Road also enabled the exchange and integration of Chinese and foreign cultures, enriching and diversifying Chinese cultural forms. Relics of the Silk Road are precisely the symbols of the Silk Road's prosperity and its long-standing legacy.

The Silk Road Relics (I) is a set of 4 special stamps issued by China Post on May 19, 2018. The stamps feature four cultural relics unearthed in Shaanxi Province, provided by the Shaanxi History Museum, the Maoling Museum, and the Famen Temple Museum. The relics are: the Gilt Bronze Silkworm (Han Dynasty), the Gilt Bronze Horse (Han Dynasty), the Agate Cup with Gilt Animal Head (Tang Dynasty), and the Blue Glazed Plate with Gilt Eight-Petal Cluster Flower Pattern (Tang Dynasty)—all of which are directly related to the Silk Road. The stamps were first released at the Shaanxi History Museum, with each stamp having a face value of 1.20 yuan and the full sheet measuring 200×120 millimeters. Designed by Chen Jingyi, the stamps were printed using the offset process by Henan Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory.

The main design of the stamps highlights the four cultural relics, while the background incorporates elements such as Silk Road camel caravans, Han Dynasty stone relief bricks, and Tang Dynasty floral patterns. The two-way camel caravans symbolize the trade and cultural interactions between the East and the West in ancient times. To enhance the three-dimensional effect, the design adopts techniques like partial embossing and hot stamping. Additionally, pearlescent ink, cold stamping, and reverse glazing technology (used for the first time in stamp printing) are applied to showcase the detailed patterns on the glazed plate. Anti-counterfeiting measures include special-shaped perforations and fluorescent coding.

Gilt Bronze Silkworm (Han Dynasty)

Unearthed in 1984 from the Qianchi River in Shiquan County, Shaanxi Province, this relic is now collected in the Shaanxi History Museum. The silkworm has a total of nine abdominal segments from head to tail, with intact thoracic legs, abdominal legs, and caudal legs. Its posture—head tilted back as if spinning silk—is exquisitely crafted and vividly shaped. It is the first relic of its kind ever discovered in China.

Gilt Bronze Horse (Han Dynasty)

Unearthed in 1985 from Xiwu Township, Xingping City, Shaanxi Province, this bronze horse is now housed in the Maoling Museum. It stands in a lifelike posture, with a spirited demeanor and a simple yet stable shape. The entire body of the bronze horse is evenly coated with a thick layer of gold, shining brilliantly. Research has confirmed that this gilt bronze horse is an artistic representation of the "Heavenly Horses from Dayuan" (also known as "sweating-blood horses"), which were raised in the Shanglin Garden or imperial stables during the Han Dynasty.

Agate Cup with Gilt Animal Head (Tang Dynasty)

Unearthed in 1970 from Hecun Village, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, this agate cup is currently part of the collection at the Shaanxi History Museum. Carved from agate with a mix of red, brown, and white hues, one end of the cup is shaped into a rim, while the other end is carved into a vivid animal head. The cup is exquisitely crafted, with a glass-like luster covering its entire surface, sparkling brilliantly. It holds significant reference value for the study of cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries during the Tang Dynasty.

Blue Glazed Plate with Gilt Eight-Petal Cluster Flower Pattern (Tang Dynasty)

Unearthed in 1987 from the underground palace of Famen Temple in Fufeng County, Shaanxi Province, this plate is now preserved in the Famen Temple Museum. The entire plate is blue and translucent, with intricate patterns carved all over its interior. These patterns are divided into several layers from the center to the edge, with a cluster flower surrounded by eight banana leaf-shaped motifs at the core. This relic reflects the communication and exchanges between China and Islamic countries during the Tang Dynasty.