Scott No: 2765-68
Serial number: 1997-8
Values in set: 4
Date of issue: Li Yingqing
Designers: June 2,1997
Size:
30*40mm for Value 1 and 2
40*30mm for Value 3 and 4
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition: 20
Printing process: offset

The special stamp set Dong Architecture, catalog number 1997-8, was issued on June 2, 1997. It consists of four stamps, produced using offset printing. Stamps (4-1) and (4-2) measure 30×40 mm, and (4-3) and (4-4) measure 40×30 mm. The perforation gauge is 12 degrees. Each sheet contains 20 stamps. The stamps were designed by Li Yinqing and printed by Shenyang Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory in Liaoning Province. Stamps (4-1) and (4-2) were printed as a horizontal continuous pair, and (4-3) and (4-4) as a vertical continuous pair.

This stamp set showcases the iconic traditional wooden architecture of the Dong ethnic group in southeastern Guizhou. Dong architecture is characterized by mortise-and-tenon woodworking techniques. The drum tower is the public center of the village for deliberations, gatherings, and song and dance. The wind-and-rain bridge, also known as the flower bridge, combines the functions of passage, rest, and shelter from rain, making it a unique architectural landscape among the mountains and waters of Dong villages. The stamps feature two drum towers and two wind-and-rain bridges, presenting traditional Dong construction techniques, showcasing the architectural art of this southwestern ethnic minority, and preserving the culture of Dong villages.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Zengchong Drum Tower

Zengchong Drum Tower is located in Zengchong Dong Village, Congjiang, Guizhou. It was first built in the 11th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty and is a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. It is one of the oldest surviving Dong drum towers. The entire building uses no nails or rivets, relying on mortise-and-tenon joints of wooden components. Multiple tiers of upturned eaves rise layer by layer. Standing at the center of the village, it is the spiritual core of the Dong village, used for public activities such as deliberations, song and dance, and sacrifices.

Bai'er Drum Tower

Bai'er Drum Tower is located in Bai'er Village, Luoxiang Town, Congjiang, Guizhou. It was completed in 1927. The tower is tall and graceful, with numerous pillars. It is a four-corner, nine-eave style without a crown. The image sets off the drum tower against a blue sky and white clouds, displaying the tower's towering and simple posture in the Dong village and representing the architectural style of drum towers built in modern times.

Riverside Wind-and-Rain Bridge

The prototype is the Diping Wind-and-Rain Bridge, which spans the Nanjiang River. It was first built in the 8th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty and is a large Dong riverside flower bridge. Multiple tiers of covered corridors and pavilions are built on the bridge, with connected double eaves. It provides both a crossing and shelter for pedestrians and a place for villagers to sit and gather. The bridge blends with the mountains and waters. It is a large-scale and beautifully shaped representative of Dong wind-and-rain bridges.

Fieldside Wind-and-Rain Bridge

The prototype is the Gaojin Fieldside Wind-and-Rain Bridge, built over a rural stream. It is small in scale and located among rice fields. The image depicts a Dong girl resting in the bridge. The small bridge is nestled among fields and trees, balancing practical function with rustic beauty. It is a typical example of the small wind-and-rain bridges scattered across the Dong countryside.

Artistic and Design Features

The set uses a realistic watercolor painting style, with warm and natural colors, integrating the buildings into the mountain forest and pastoral environment. The two drum tower stamps are horizontal continuous pairs, and the two wind-and-rain bridge stamps are vertical continuous pairs, providing varied layout combinations. The images meticulously depict the upturned eaves and mortise-and-tenon structures of the wooden towers, reproducing the Dong architectural characteristic of no iron nails. They fully present the two representative building types of Dong villages—drum towers and flower bridges—full of rich southeastern Guizhou rustic flavor.