Scott No: -
Serial number: 2021-22
Values in set: 3
Date of issue: October 18th, 2021
Denomination: 360 fen
Designer: Wang Yaping, Liu Zhao, Zhang Fan
Size of stamps: 30 * 40 mm
Perforation: 13.5
Sheet composition: 16
Sheet Size: 170 * 220 mm
Printing process: Offset
Printing House: Henan Provincal Post Printing Works

China Post scheduled the issuance of a set of special stamps titled "Yuju (Henan Opera)" on October 18, 2021. The set contains 3 stamps with a total face value of 3.60 yuan, and the planned circulation is 7.5 million sets.

Yuju, also known as Henan Bangzi, Henan Ou, and Tu Bangzi, is a traditional Chinese opera genre originating from Henan Province. Amid the profound flow of China’s 5,000-year-old civilization, operas from south of the Yellow River have long resonated deeply across the vast Central Plains. As a representative of these operas, Yuju has stood out and developed vigorously among various traditional opera forms with its strong vitality. Today, it has become one of China’s "Five Major Opera Genres", alongside Peking Opera, Pingju (Tianjin Opera), Yueju (Shaoxing Opera), and Huangmeixi (Huangmei Opera).

Yuju’s singing style is highly penetrating, featuring a sonorous and powerful tone, well-measured rhythms, smooth vocal delivery, clear enunciation, rich charm, vivid expression, and a remarkable ability to convey the inner emotions of characters. With its characteristics of being accessible to both refined and popular tastes, flexible performance, realistic acting, and closeness to daily life, Yuju is deeply loved by the general public.

The stamp set was designed by Wang Yaping, Liu Zhao, and Zhang Fan. It features three classic Yuju plays that are highly representative of their era, culturally significant, widely spread, and influential. The character portrayals are detailed and vivid, and the scenes are humorous and engaging.

The first stamp, Mulan, depicts Hua Mulan riding a horse and urging it forward on her way to join the army, embodying her firm resolve to defend her family and country.

The second stamp, The Seventh-Rank Sesame Official, shows Magistrate Tang reading a petition in his study. It portrays his compassion for the people (treating the people like his own children) as well as his character of abhorring evil and upholding justice with unyielding integrity.

The third stamp, Chaoyang Ditch, captures the scene of Yin Huan and Shuan Bao walking up the mountain with high spirits, reflecting their curiosity, expectation, warmth, and pride.

The stamp set was printed by Henan Post and Telecommunications Technology Co., Ltd. using offset printing. During the printing process, great care was taken to detail the characters:

Pearlescent ink was used to enhance the luster of pearls and accessories on the costumes, highlighting the magnificence of the theatrical attire.

Special ink was applied to adjust the light and shadow of elements such as costumes and backgrounds through meticulous layering, enhancing the three-dimensional effect of the accessories and truly restoring the stylistic features of the opera’s era.

The stamp backgrounds use special materials that display unique effects under different lighting conditions:

For the Mulan stamp, a brown-to-gold color-shifting effect is used, echoing the artistic conception of the lines from The Ballad of Mulan: "At dawn, she leaves her parents; at dusk, she camps by the Yellow River."

For The Seventh-Rank Sesame Official stamp, a brown-to-blue-purple color shift is adopted. Blue-purple symbolizes integrity and incorruptibility, and this color-changing process aligns with the character’s traits.

For Chaoyang Ditch, a brown-to-green color shift is used, linking the story of the two young people building a new countryside to the ecological concept proposed by General Secretary in the new era: "Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."

The Yellow River depicted in the border decoration of the stamp sheet is printed with special ink, creating a sparkling effect under sunlight.