Scott No: -
Serial number: 2020-3
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: February 8, 2020
Denomination: 480 fen
Designer: Wang Huming
Size of stamps: 50 * 30 mm
Perforation: 13
Sheet composition: 12
Sheet Size: 186 * 158 mm
Printing process: Offset
Printing House: Henan Provincal Postage Stamp Printing Works

China Post plans to issue a set of 4 special stamps themed "Chinese Paper Cutting (II)" on February 8, 2020, with a total face value of 4.80 yuan for the complete set.

Chinese paper cutting is a flat paper-cutting and engraving art created by the broad masses of Chinese laborers in the practice of production and life. With a long history and wide geographical distribution, it boasts distinct national artistic characteristics and is one of China's outstanding intangible cultural heritages. As a flat plastic art, paper cutting is closely related to various life forms such as dwellings, costumes, utensils, and rituals. In a sense, it relatively intensively reflects the thinking characteristics of folk art modeling—concise yet full of ingenuity, profound in simplicity, and enjoys a broad mass base.

This set is the second installment of the "Chinese Paper Cutting" series:

The first stamp, "Jiaodong, Shandong · Three Mothers Teaching Their Sons", is derived from the story of "Meng Mu Teaching Her Son". It depicts a mother educating her child to strive for progress and cherish gratitude through actions such as cutting the woven cloth.

The second stamp, "Ansai, Shaanxi · Waist Drums Celebrating Spring", shows the people of Ansai celebrating the Lunar New Year through activities like playing waist drums and doing yangko dances. The figures in the paper cutting are robust, vigorous, and unrestrained, embodying the simple and bold character of farmers on the Loess Plateau.

The third stamp, "Xian County, Hebei · Wang Xiao Escorting a Traveler", is adapted from the folk opera Wang Xiao Escorting a Traveler. It tells the story between the bride Erguniang and the donkey driver Wang Xiao on her way back to her parents' home, expressing the inner world and joyful mood of the characters.

The fourth stamp, "Tonghua, Jilin · Auspicious Ginseng-Gathering Road", vividly depicts the ginseng-gathering customs in the Changbai Mountain area, reflecting the regional historical and cultural values contained in this activity.

The stamps adopt a unified horizontal composition. The text on the stamps briefly explains the content of the four paper-cut works and enhances the integrity and coherence of the layout.

To create the effect of paper cuttings pasted on glass windows, the set uses partial holographic hot stamping technology. On the stamps, one can see the paper-cut patterns slightly protruding from the paper, and clearly feel the edges and overall thickness of the paper cuttings with fingertips. The colorless fluorescent pattern of the Chinese character "Fu" (blessing) hidden in the text introduction of the stamps continues the fluorescent pattern form of the "Chinese Paper Cutting (I)" stamps, forming a consistent series effect. In addition, scanning the stamps with the "China Philately Stamp Encyclopedia" WeChat Mini Program allows viewers to appreciate the creation process of the corresponding paper-cut works.

Designed by Wang Huming, the set is printed by Henan Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory using the offset printing process.