Scott No: -
Serial number: 2023-5
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: April 27, 2023
Denomination: 480 fen
Designer: Li Yunzhong
Size of stamps: 38 * 50 mm
Perforation: 13 * 13.5
Sheet composition:
16 for Sheet I;
8 for Sheet II (2 Sets)
Size of sheet:
180 * 240 mm for Sheet I;
200 * 156 mm for Sheet II
Size of S/S:
138 * 93 mm for S/S
73 * 81 mm for S/S stamp
Printing process: Photogravure
Printing House: Beijing Postage Stamp Printing Works

China Post scheduled the issuance of a set of special stamps themed "Chinese Classical Literary Masterpiece - Journey to the West (V)" on April 27, 2023, which includes 4 stamps and 1 souvenir sheet. The designs of the stamps are respectively titled: 1. Subduing Demons at Lion Camel Ridge; 2. Vanquishing Monsters in Bhikkhu Kingdom; 3. Filling the Bottomless Cave; 4. Subjugating the Jade Rabbit in Tianzhu. The souvenir sheet is titled: The Five Sages Attain Enlightenment. The total face value of the whole set of stamps is 11.10 yuan. The planned circulation of the stamp set is 8.5 million sets, with 990,000 sheets of Format II. The planned circulation of the souvenir sheet is 5.98 million copies, and an additional folder of block - of - four stamps will be issued, with a planned circulation of 150,000 folders.

Journey to the West, a chapter - book novel written by Wu Chengen, a novelist of the Ming Dynasty, is a classic work of ancient Chinese mythical and demonic novels. The novel, consisting of 100 chapters in total, tells the story of Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie and Sha Wujing protecting Monk Xuanzang (Tang Seng) on his journey to the Western Regions to obtain Buddhist scriptures. Along the way, they subdue demons and vanquish monsters, going through 81 hardships, and finally attain enlightenment. The novel creates a large number of vivid characters, is full of romantic fantasy, contains rich life philosophies within its humor and satire, and demonstrates the spirit of criticizing social realities, pursuing ideals and making unremitting efforts.

This set of stamps is the fifth group of the "Chinese Classical Literary Masterpiece - Journey to the West" series stamps issued by China Post since 2015, depicting five story scenes from Chapter 74 to Chapter 100 of the novel. The first stamp, "Subduing Demons at Lion Camel Ridge", shows the fierce battle scene where Sun Wukong fights against three monsters - the Green - Haired Lion, the Yellow - Tusked Elephant and the Roc Eagle - at Lion Camel Ridge. The second stamp, "Vanquishing Monsters in Bhikkhu Kingdom", presents the scene where Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie, in order to rescue the children of Bhikkhu Kingdom who were to be used as medicine ingredients, subdue the White Deer Demon and capture and kill the White - Faced Fox with the help of the Antarctic Immortal. The third stamp, "Filling the Bottomless Cave", depicts Ne Zha accompanying Sun Wukong to the Bottomless Cave in Xiankong Mountain and capturing the Golden - Nosed White - Haired Rat Demon who tried to force Monk Xuanzang to marry her. The fourth stamp, "Subjugating the Jade Rabbit in Tianzhu", shows Sun Wukong leading the Lord of the Moon Palace (Taiyin Xingjun) to Tianzhu Kingdom and subduing the Jade Rabbit from the Moon Palace (Guanghan Palace) that was pretending to be the princess and pounding herbs. The souvenir sheet, "The Five Sages Attain Enlightenment", portrays the scene where after the four disciples (Sun Wukong, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, Monk Xuanzang) and the White Dragon Horse retrieve the authentic Buddhist scriptures, they return to the Lingshan Mountain in their true forms. The five sages finally attain enlightenment and ascend to paradise together. The painter adopts the traditional meticulous brushwork with heavy colors, while focusing on conveying the spirit through the form. The characters are portrayed vividly and vividly, and the well - known story plots are vividly interpreted within the small space of the stamps.